Rare Diseases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 February 2017

Wednesday, 1 February 2017

Ceisteanna (110)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

110. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of the terms of reference, required membership and reporting relationship for the working group to bring forward appropriate decision criteria for the reimbursement of orphan medicines and technologies; the timeline for these actions or when they can be expected; when these will be published; if expert pharmacologic support to advise the chairperson has been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4555/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE has advised my Department that the terms of reference for the proposed Rare Diseases Technology Review Group are being finalised. They will be discussed at an upcoming meeting of the HSE Optimising Pharmaceutical Value Group prior to being submitted to the National Drugs Management Programme Sponsorship Group for consideration.

The timeline for establishment of this group is subject to, among other things, approval of the National Drugs Management Programme Sponsorship. The Rare Disease drugs for consideration by the Rare Diseases Technology Review Group will be determined at a later stage in this process.