Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Ceist:179. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health if the drug epliodex is available to medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43981/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 24 October 2019
Ceisteanna (179)
Freagraí scríofa
The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
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, the company must submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
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).
I am advised by the HSE that it has not received a formal application for pricing and reimbursement to date for the drug Epidyolex. If an application for reimbursement is received, it will be processed in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.