Written Answers Nos. 247-257
247. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a reply will issue to a query made in correspondence (details supplied) regarding medicines for persons with multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17221/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have sought further clarification from the Deputy in relation to this parliamentary question.
248. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied). [17228/18]
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 the Deputy directly.
249. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17239/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
250. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of the application by a person (details supplied) for the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17262/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
251. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the differences in the way in which persons with multiple sclerosis, MS, here access life changing medicines by comparison to other EU countries; the reason there is delay for new medicine to be reimbursed here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17285/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
In line with the 2013 Act, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the Community Drugs scheme, the company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the Reimbursement List.
As outlined in the IPHA agreement, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving the application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine, or refuse to reimburse the medicine.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE, and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.
The HSE strives to reach a decision in as timely a manner as possible. However, because of the significant monies involved, it must ensure that the best price is achieved, as these commitments are often multi-million euro investments on an ongoing basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.
I have been informed that Ocrelizumab for the treatment of adult patients with early primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) is currently undergoing a full pharmacoeconomic assessment by the NCPE.
I am keen to engage with Industry and to explore ways in which new medicines might be more easily introduced in Ireland. However, any innovative approaches that may be tabled must be compatible with the statutory provisions which are in place and must also recognise the fundamental pricing/funding issues in the context of finite Exchequer resources.
252. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the regulation process relative to speech and language therapists trained abroad who now wish to have their qualifications registered here is efficient and fit for purpose; and the number of applications pending and dealt with, respectively in each of the past three years. [17290/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 seeks to protect the public by providing a system of statutory registration for designated health and social care professions, including that of Speech and Language Therapist.
Statutory regulation is a system underpinned by law whereby each member of a profession is recognised by a specified body as competent to practice within that profession. As a legally binding process, with a mechanism for the prosecution of offences, it ensures a robust system that serves the dual function of protecting the public while ensuring that the good reputation of a profession is not called into question by the poor practices of an individual member.
CORU is the umbrella term used to describe the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, its committees and the registration boards established under the Act to regulate each individual designated profession. Its function is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through the statutory registration of the designated health and social care professions. T he recent decision to designate the professions of counsellors and psychotherapists under the Act will increase the number of regulated professions to 16 in total. CORU’s register of speech and language therapists opened on 31 October 2014.
Professionals who apply for registration must demonstrate that they are fit and proper to practise in the profession, complete National Vetting Bureau e-vetting and international police clearance, verify that they agree to abide by their profession specific Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, pay the application fee and hold an 'approved' qualification. To apply for registration, a professional must complete an online application form and provide all of the required supporting documentation.
An “approved qualification” is one that has been awarded on satisfactory completion of an education and training programme in the State approved by the relevant registration board; or a non-Irish qualification which has been deemed equivalent to the Irish qualification standard.
Such non-Irish qualifications are assessed under the mechanisms set out in Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications which provide for the assessment of an applicant’s formal training and post-qualification professional experience to determine if they meet the standard required to practise in the home member state (i.e. Ireland). The same mechanism for recognition is also used by CORU Registration Boards for the assessment of non-Irish qualifications which are outside the scope of the Directive (i.e. all non EEA qualifications and the qualifications of non-EEA nationals).
This recognition process set out in the Directive requires the submission and assessment of documentation demonstrating each individual applicant’s formal training and post-qualification professional experience, and provides for the issuing of decisions within four months of the submission of a complete application.
I am satisfied that these processes of registration and qualification recognition provide a strong mechanism to protect the public by ensuring that only appropriately qualified professionals are registered and accordingly it is fit for purpose. I appreciate that the qualification recognition process may take time; however, the four month timeframe contained in the EU Directive is reasonable given the nature of the assessment required.
The numbers of applications received and completed for registration in the speech and language therapists register from 2014 to 2018 are as follows:
|
Year |
Applications received -Total 1,896 |
Registrations completed - Total 1,823 |
|
2014 |
27 |
3 |
|
2015 |
258 |
149 |
|
2016 |
1,375 |
737 |
|
2017 |
199 |
881 |
|
2018 |
37 |
53 |
253. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason the BreastCheck western unit is to withdraw its mobile unit from Sligo town and relocate to the village of Collooney; his views on whether this will result in access problems to the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17335/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra254. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if BreastCheck will be engaging with Sligo County Council to facilitate the locating of the BreastCheck mobile unit in Sligo town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17336/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.
The HSE's National Screening Service (NSS) advises that the BreastCheck programme seeks to source suitable sites for mobile screening units in order to maximise take-up of screening opportunities and to ensure that locations meet the highest standards for women.
BreastCheck is currently providing screening to women in Co. Sligo with a mobile unit in Tubbercurry. A second mobile unit was located in Sligo town in the past, but BreastCheck were informed that the location used for this service is no longer being made available. BreastCheck identified an alternative site in Collooney and screening is scheduled to commence there in a number of weeks.
BreastCheck continues to engage with Sligo County Council and other potential partners with a view to securing a site within Sligo town. In recent days BreastCheck has been offered some potential locations in the town and is currently following up on these to determine suitability. If the process to identify a suitable location in Sligo town is successful, BreastCheck will ensure that services are provided there at the earliest possible time.
255. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be scheduled. [17337/18]
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 the Deputy directly.
256. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure new medicines are available to persons with multiple sclerosis, MS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17338/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
In line with the 2013 Act, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the Community Drugs scheme, the company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the Reimbursement List.
As outlined in the IPHA agreement, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving the application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine, or refuse to reimburse the medicine.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE, and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.
The HSE strives to reach a decision in as timely a manner as possible. However, because of the significant monies involved, it must ensure that the best price is achieved, as these commitments are often multi-million euro investments on an ongoing basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.
I am keen to engage with Industry and to explore ways in which new medicines might be more easily introduced in Ireland. However, any innovative approaches that may be tabled must be compatible with the statutory provisions which are in place and must also recognise the fundamental pricing/funding issues in the context of finite Exchequer resources.
I have indicated willingness to meet with MS Ireland and my office is in contact with the organisation to arrange a mutually convenient date.
257. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 288 of 29 March 2018, when discussions will commence with general practitioner representatives on contractual issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17347/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from the Department of Health have been working with their counterparts in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE to ensure that the planned engagement with general practitioner representatives is fully focused on the priorities of the Government’s health reform agenda and measures to better address the strategic challenges facing the service.
There is no confirmed date at this point in time for the commencement of the consultations. However, the process is expected to start in the coming weeks.
