Kevin O'Keeffe
Ceist:177. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will have a specific charge waived in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [8880/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Charges
Ceisteanna (177)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Health Screening Programmes
Ceisteanna (178)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:178. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the HSE universal newborn hearing screening programme; if the programme is available for newborn children in every county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8881/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (179)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:179. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8883/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Ceisteanna (180)
Clare Daly
Ceist:180. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made to make Orkambi available to cystic fibrosis sufferers here. [8889/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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, following a request from the HSE, the NCPE carried out an assessment of the manufacturer's economic dossier submitted in March 2016 on the cost effectiveness of Orkambi. This dossier included details on all relevant costs and relevant cost offsets including those associated with hospitalisation, disease management costs, intravenous antibiotics, adverse events and any additional costs arising in patients not taking Orkambi.
The NCPE has completed its Health Technology Assessment and this is available on its website. It was submitted to the HSE in June 2016. The NCPE determined, following an evaluation of the economic dossier, that the manufacturer failed to demonstrate cost-effectiveness or value for money from using the drug. The NCPE have confirmed that all relevant costs were included in the analysis. In line with the HSE's assessment process, the HSE Drugs Committee considered the NCPE recommendation, the manufacturers submissions and commercial offer and other information. Following this consideration the Drugs Committee did not recommend reimbursement at the current price. The HSE Directorate considered the Drugs Committee’s recommendation in December and the Directorate took the decision not to reimburse at the current price offered by the company.
The HSE has since re-entered into negotiations with Vertex, the manufacturer of Orkambi, with a view to significantly reducing the cost of Orkambi. A meeting was held in December and again in early January. Following completion of the negotiation process, I am advised that the HSE’s Drugs Committee met at the end of January and considered the manufacturer's latest price offerings. The matter is currently under consideration by the HSE Directorate, in accordance with the criteria set out in the 2013 Act.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (181)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:181. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who has been waiting for an appointment for a cataract operation since 2014 will receive treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8890/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medical Card Administration
Ceisteanna (182)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:182. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if there will be a separate application process for the medical card for those in receipt of domiciliary care allowance or if it will be automatically granted to them; and the timeframe for when this process will commence. [8891/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This is a Programme for Government Commitment which received funding in Budget 2017. I received permission from Government to draft the relevant Bill in December 2016. This new legislation will effectively mean that all children in respect of whom a DCA payment is made will automatically qualify for a medical card and, therefore, no longer be subject to the medical card means test at any point in the future while in receipt of DCA. The drafting of the legislation is at an advanced stage and will be brought before the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. The HSE has commenced the process of planning for the introduction of the scheme.
Any clients who are in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) but who do not currently hold Medical Card eligibility will be able to apply for a Medical Card under the DCA entitlement in two ways: through an online application system modelled off the Under 6/Over 70 GP Visit Card registration system or by completing an application form and posting it to the HSE Medical Card Services. Once the application is received, the HSE will validate the receipt of a DCA payment through data sharing with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). The HSE will be in a position to validate all those clients who are in receipt of DCA and who also currently hold eligibility to GP Visit cards through data sharing with the DSP. There will be no requirement for these clients to apply for Medical Card eligibility as this can be automated through current systems.
My objective is that this measure will be put into effect as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (183)
Kevin O'Keeffe
Ceist:183. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will assist in having a person (details supplied) admitted to hospital for an urgent surgical procedure. [8892/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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 you directly.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (184)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:184. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8893/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Dental Services Provision
Ceisteanna (185)
John Brassil
Ceist:185. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification on the school dental screening programme (details supplied); the frequency with which dentists visit schools; the stage at which children in school are examined, for example, second class, sixth class and so on; if this varies; if so, the reason it does; the way this can guarantee continuity of care for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8894/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (186)
Robert Troy
Ceist:186. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will make arrangements for an emergency medical appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8897/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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 you directly.
Hospital Admissions
Ceisteanna (187)
John Brassil
Ceist:187. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if a referral for a person (details supplied) has been received by the admissions office at Kerry University Hospital; the average waiting time for this procedure at this hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8899/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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 specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.