Written Answers Nos. 672-687
672. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for treatments from a physiotherapist in respect of persons in receipt of a medical card by CHO region in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24152/19]
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.
673. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgery appointment for a person (details supplied). [24153/19]
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, since 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.
678. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if there are incidents in which the HSE in conjunction with an organisation (details supplied) provides speech and language therapy for children over six years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24168/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra679. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health when speech and language therapy will be provided to a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24169/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 678 and 679 together.
The 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.
680. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times for older persons' services in County Waterford in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24172/19]
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.
681. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the HSE waiting times for assessments of needs for children with additional needs to date over the past five years by CHO area in tabular form. [24176/19]
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.
682. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists attached to the school dentistry programme in County Cork. [24177/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
683. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists attached to the school dentistry programme in County Cork who have retired in the past three years; if they have been replaced; and if not, when they will be replaced. [24178/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
684. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists attached to the school dentistry programme in County Cork in each of the past ten years. [24179/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
685. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of children seen by dentists; the number of appointments carried out; and the number of procedures carried out under the school dentistry programme in each of the past ten years. [24180/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
686. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of respite bed nights provided for adults in counties Louth and Meath in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of adults for whom respite was provided in counties Louth and Meath in the same years in tabular form; the average number of nights persons were offered over the same years; the method of rolling years relating to the provision of respite; if persons lose an entitlement to respite provision in the subsequent years if this option is taken up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24183/19]
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.
687. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the request made by this Deputy during Questions on Promised Legislation on 29 May 2019 to meet and assist the family of a person (details supplied); the steps he will take to reduce the unaffordable price of the drug by removing the cost of the VAT on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24189/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 which specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines and 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. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to meet with Mr Holmes, although I have great sympathy for his situation.
In Ireland, the majority of patients access medicines through the publicly funded Community Drug Schemes.
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE, it must apply to have the new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
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).
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) has been granted marketing authorisation in Ireland and the EU for a number of indications and is included on the HSE reimbursement list for some of those indications.
Furthermore, Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is being assessed by the HSE, using the criteria in the 2013 Act, for a number of other indications for which it has received marketing authorisation.
There are no other indications for pembrolizumab approved in the European Union at this time.
Clinical trials for various immunotherapies, including pembrolizumab (Keytruda), are ongoing globally for a range of other possible indications, which may receive marketing authorisation in the EU over the next number of years. Each of those indications will be considered for reimbursement as market authorisations are granted and applications received.
In relation to your suggestion regarding VAT exemptions to medicinal products, I wish to advise you that changes to taxation policy are a matter for the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform.
