Finian McGrath
Ceist:120. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health to support the medical research charities group in 2015 and 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45501/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 16 December 2015
Ceisteanna (120)
Freagraí scríofa
I am committed to maintaining and developing a strong health research strand within and throughout the health service.
Research in health is supported through the Health Research Board (HRB). The HRB is a statutory body under the aegis of the Department of Health and is the lead agency in Ireland supporting and funding health research. The HRB has a current annual budget in the region of €40m.
I am aware of the valuable work of the MRCG and the Deputy may be aware that since 2006, the work of the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG) has been supported by my Department through annual funding to the Health Research Board (HRB) for the co-funding of research projects with medical research charities. The level of funding is currently at €900,000 per annum. This innovative joint funding scheme allows members of the MRCG to support clearly defined research projects in disease areas and patient populations of specific interest to each individual charity, where they might otherwise not be in a position to finance the full cost of that research. Officials in my Department recently met with representatives of the MRCG and discussed ways in which the Department can support the organisation during 2016.
Developments in the health sector structures such as the appointment of a Chief Academic Officer to the management teams of the Hospital Groups will put research on the agenda of the healthcare system at a high level. That, combined with a commitment by my Department to drive a research, evidence and data analytics agenda are important enablers for driving the research agenda. Indeed, a new Assistant Secretary for Research and Development and Health Analytics, was recently appointed in my Department. This appointment is further evidence of how I view the crucial importance of health research and data to providing the foundations for sound health policies, practices and outcomes.
I am committed to embedding research and evidence at the heart of health policy and practice. My Department is working with the HSE to ensure that this agenda is driven and supported in a co-ordinated way at corporate level by the Executive. As part of this process options will be explored on how best this can be achieved.
In respect of the other areas raised I can inform the Deputy that a revised General Scheme of the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill was approved by Government in November and the Bill is expected to be published in 2016. It is also envisaged that the Heads of the Human Tissue Bill will be progressed in 2016.
The National Rare Disease Plan recommended that an Oversight Implementation Group of relevant stakeholders led by the HSE and including patients' groups, be established to oversee and monitor implementation of the plan's recommendations. This group was established by my Department earlier this year and it has met on a number of occasions. One of the principal recommendations in the Plan was the establishment of a National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases. This programme will be responsible for, among others: Mapping, developing and implementing care pathways for rare diseases; facilitating timely access to centres of expertise - nationally and internationally; developing treatment guidelines for many rare disorders; and developing care pathways with European Reference Centres for those ultra-rare disorders where there may not be sufficient expertise in Ireland.