Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012
660 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the current cost of Gauchers Disease per patient here; the number of persons diagnosed with the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32319/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation on the prevalence and treatment costs of Gaucher's Disease is not routinely available since this condition is not covered by statutory notification nor at present included in any disease registers. The Hospital InPatient Enquiry (HIPE) records details on each inpatient and day case discharged from publicly-funded acute hospitals. In HIPE, Gaucher's Disease is listed under the category of "Other Sphingolipidosis" which also includes a range of other conditions. Total hospital discharges for this category in 2010 were 129 of which 120 were day case treatments. It is not possible to estimate what proportion of these treatments may relate specifically to Gaucher's Disease.
