Written Answers Nos. 994 - 1013
994. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the reason the eye medication macushield has been withdrawn from medical card patients; and if a substitute medication will be made available to medical card patients [41465/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
995. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for hip surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41466/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
998. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) who requires a medical procedure [41478/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
999. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, both in terms of initial appointment and treatment, for County Donegal for both adults and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41479/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
1001. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the HSE's policy to ensure vacancies are filled in HSE sections as they arise; the steps the HSE take in ensuring alternative cover is there when persons are on maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41485/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1003. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a dialysis machine for Bantry hospital in view of the fact that a large number of people from west Cork are currently travelling to Cork city for dialysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41504/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1004. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the autism strategy as required under the Autism Bill 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41507/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2013, a Private Members' Bill entitled the Autism Bill 2012 was debated and passed, unopposed by the Government, to Second Stage in the Dáil. As the Deputy will be aware, all Bills on the Order Paper fall on dissolution of the Dáil.
Notwithstanding this, it is important to note that the new Disability Inclusion Strategy 2016-2020, which is due to be published shortly, contains a commitment to implementing the Action Plan on Autism and also includes several autism-specific actions relating to health and education services and supports. In addition, work is currently underway in the National Disability Authority (NDA) on updating the Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and Information provided by Public Bodies to ensure greater clarity for the needs of people with autism.
1005. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the delay in the list for the allergy clinic (details supplied) in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin for which the current waiting time for an appointment is two years; the reason for this delay; if there are any additional resources to be allocated to alleviate this two-year waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41509/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly.
1006. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding making the drug Respreeza available for persons suffering from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41523/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1012. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the result of the health technology assessment by the NCPE of the human alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor drug Respreeza is processed in a timely way, so that it can be promptly reimbursed by the HSE as it is reimbursed in other countries (details supplied); if he will ensure that those persons currently on the drug with beneficial results are guaranteed continued reimbursed use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41569/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1053. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will support funding for the drug Respreeza for persons suffering from emphysema caused by alpha-1 (details supplied). [41769/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra1118. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to offer reimbursement for the drug Respreeza, which would allow persons suffering from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency to continue treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1012/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1006, 1012, 1053 and 1118 together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In reaching its decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision (including the information /dossier submitted by the Company) and will take into account such expert opinions and recommendations which may have been sought by the HSE at its sole discretion (for example, from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics).
In considering an application, the HSE will also have regard to Part 1 and Part 3 of Schedule 3 of the 2013 Act. Part 3 requires the HSE to have regard to the following criteria:
1. the health needs of the public;
2. the cost-effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services;
3. the availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement;
4.the proposed costs, benefits and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks;
5. the potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item;
6. the clinical need for the item or listed item;
7. the appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety;
8. the efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies); and
9. the resources available to the HSE.
I am informed that the HSE received a request and economic dossier from the manufacturer of Respreeza for maintenance treatment of emphysema in adults with documented severe alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency.
In June of this year the HSE asked the NCPE to carry out a health technology assessment on the cost effectiveness of this treatment. The NCPE completed its assessment and made a recommendation on 9 December 2016. The NCPE determined that the manufacturer failed to demonstrate cost-effectiveness of the drug and did not recommend it for reimbursement.
A summary of the health technology assessment has been published on the NCPE website and is available at: http://www.ncpe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NCPE-website-summary_Final.pdf.
The HSE will consider the NCPE assessment, and other expert advice, as part of its decision-making process for reimbursement. This decision will be made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE in line with the 2013 Act.
In relation to compassionate access schemes, I have previously asked manufacturers to show compassion and to maintain compassionate access schemes for patients during the assessment process by the HSE and this remains the position. However, the operation of these schemes is at the discretion of manufacturers. The manufacturer has informed the NCPE that there are 17 patients in the compassionate programme receiving Respreeza which will continue until the end of January 2017.
1008. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when the position of registrar for births, deaths and marriages at the civil registration department in Thurles, County Tipperary, will be filled by the HSE (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41529/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1009. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a person (details supplied) with their entire medical records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41537/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1010. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for dental items in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41540/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
1011. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the reason medical cards of persons (details supplied) were withdrawn; the status of their eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41562/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for Members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas Members.
1013. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health when the independent monitoring group overseeing A Vision for Change last met; if it was disbanded, when this occurred; if any other alternative was put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41570/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January 2006, the Government adopted the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy A Vision for Change as the basis for the future development of mental health services in Ireland. In March 2006, the Government, in line with a recommendation in A Vision for Change, established the First Independent Monitoring Group for a three-year period to monitor progress on the implementation of the report recommendations. The term of the first group ceased in April 2009 and in June 2009 the Government appointed the Second Independent Monitoring Group for a further three-year period. The Second group delivered its final report in 2011 and subsequently the Government dissolved the group as the three-year term had come to an end.
A Vision for Change has guided national mental health policy for the past ten years and its term came to an end in 2016. The Department of Health, following a recent request for tender, awarded a contract for an expert evidence review and analysis of national and international best practice in the development and delivery of mental health services. The review aims to identify sites of best practice, outlining how these models can apply to the Irish context. The review will also assess the current delivery of Mental Health Services in Ireland having regard to the international evidence and the implementation of A Vision for Change, and will have regard to both human rights and Health and Well-being objectives.
This evidence review will inform the parameters of a review of A Vision for Change. Consideration is also being given to establishing the appropriate oversight structure for the policy review process.
