Written Answers Nos. 536-549
536. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of a review in the case of a person (details supplied); if previous cards are now reinstated pending review in view of the fact the person's circumstances have not changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9654/17]
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 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.
537. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the outcome from the meetings between the HSE and a company (details supplied) in relation to Orkambi and Kalydeco; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9655/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 manufacturer's 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 and Kalydeco. 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 statutory process is still ongoing but I expect it can be concluded in a period of weeks.
538. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an orthopaedic appointment at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9664/17]
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 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.
539. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the legal fees incurred on freedom of information requests received by his Department; the staff hours involved in the processing of these requests for the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9680/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo legal fees have been incurred in relation to FOI requests received by the Department of Health.
Dealing with FOI requests forms part of the normal duties of officials in the Department. As with any other duties, the number of hours spent on such work is not monitored separately. However, in order to give an indication of the work involved, the table below sets out details of the total number of requests received in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
|
Year |
Number of FOI Requests Received |
|
2016 |
317 |
|
2015 |
348 |
|
2014 |
235 |
540. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9688/17]
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 you directly.
541. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9690/17]
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.
542. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason heart surgery scheduled for a person (details supplied) was cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9697/17]
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 you directly.
543. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the reason why an application by a person (details supplied) to the NMBI has been declined; if there are distinguishing factors which affect persons that have undertaken their training in the US; if so, the factors concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9699/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is responsible for the recognition of non-Irish nurse qualifications which is required as part of its statutory legislation function. The NMBI have provided a report with regard to the matter raised.
The reference standards for Nursing in Ireland, against which qualifications are compared under the general system, are described in the Requirements and Standards for Nurse Registration Education Programmes (NMBI, 2005) which is accessible at the following webpage:
www.nmbi.ie/nmbi/media/NMBI/Requirements-and-Standards-for-Nurse-Registration-Education-Programmes-3rd-Ed.pdf?ext=.pdf
I am advised by the NMBI that the applicant has not met the training hours required for recognition.
544. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason persons who are on medication that causes additional tooth decay are only entitled to two cavity fillings per annum on the medical card system; and if he will examine this matter with a view to making changes which would allow persons on this type of medication to avail of additional dental care [9701/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
545. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a wheelchair for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9705/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
546. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding idle buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9706/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
547. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if respite services at community hospitals in County Donegal have been suspended; if so, the dates on which respite services were suspended at each facility, in tabular form; the number of cancellations that have been made at each facility since the service was first suspended; when it is expected that respite services will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9707/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
548. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the average length of time an assessment of need and implementation of a home care package takes; when in the process a home would be assessed; if a discharge would be effected prior to the implementation of a home care package in respect of a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9709/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
549. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 6 October 2016, if the advice sought by his Department regarding the possible need for legislative change has yet been received; if so, the way he will progress plans to amend the application form for the long-term illness scheme in order to replace offensive terminology used to define the recognised condition in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9711/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position remains unchanged as of that set out in the response to parliamentary question number 227 of 6 October 2016. However, I hope to receive an update shortly.
