Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Medicinal Products Availability

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 November 2012

Thursday, 8 November 2012

Ceisteanna (75)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

75. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full list of the medicines and patient products that have been withdrawn from the medical card and drug reimbursement schemes in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48931/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In the current financial environment the Health Service Executive (HSE) is facing a challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of reimbursable items. These include glucosamine, omega-3 triglyceride products, orlistat, and gluten-free products.

Glucosamine is indicated for the management of symptoms of osteoarthritis. The National Centre for Pharmoeconomics (NCPE) have assessed the cost-effectiveness of glucosamine on two occasions and concluded that it did not offer value for money to the HSE. However, glucosamine products are available over the counter without prescriptions.

Omega-3 triglyceride products (e.g. Omacor) have been identified both nationally and internationally as not being cost effective or being of lesser benefit to patients. However, these products are also available over the counter without prescriptions, as is Orlistat.

Gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. A Supplementary Welfare Allowance Adult Diet Supplement may be awarded by the Department of Social Protection to eligible persons. Persons wishing to apply for this allowance can do so by completing an application form which can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/swa9.pdf . Separate application forms are available for children. For persons who are not awarded a Diet Supplement, monies spent on gluten-free foods can be taken into account for tax purposes.

A full list of items available under the community drug schemes is available on the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service website, www.pcrs.ie (choose 'List of Reimbursable Items'). In addition, the monthly updates (additions and deletions) to the product list are provided at the same location under 'Updates to the List of Reimbursable Items and High Tech Scheme List'.

Barr
Roinn