Written Answers Nos. 385-398
387. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on vehicles by the National Ambulance Service in each year since 2000, in tabular form; the source of funding for expenditure in each year; the Covid spending in 2020, 2021 and 2022; the number and type of vehicles to which the expenditure refers and the relevant amounts expended; the purpose of each purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19004/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra388. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of vehicles disposed of by the National Ambulance Service in each year since 2000, in tabular form; the reason for each disposal; the revenue generated by each disposal; the cost of each disposal; the number and types of vehicles in each disposal; the reason for each disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19005/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 388 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
389. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims submitted by dentists under the dental treatment services scheme in each of the years from 2011 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of dentists who submitted less than 50, 50 to 100, 100 to 250, 250 to 500, 500 to 1000 and more than 1000 claims in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19006/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
390. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. no. 3 of 31 March 2022, the number of medical graduates who sought an internship in each year since 2011; the expected number in 2022; the number who were successful; the number who completed the internship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19007/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
391. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors who completed their internship with the HSE in each year since 2012; the number which subsequently took up employment with the HSE in each year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19008/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
392. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if persons providing home-help employed by the HSE or by private companies will receive the €1,000 bonus being considered for healthcare workers; if not, the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19015/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.The Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021. Full details of how this measure shall apply including eligibility and terms and conditions will be published by the HSE shortly.This payment will be made to those eligible public sector frontline healthcare staff (inclusive of agency staff working for the HSE) who worked in clinical settings, noting this list is not exhaustive: those Doctors / Nurses / Health Care Assistants / Porters / Cleaners etc. that work in clinical settings. The measure encompasses Health Care Support Assistants (also known as Home Carers / Home Help) employed by or carrying out duties contracted to the HSE.The measure further extends to those equivalent healthcare workers in private nursing homes and hospices. Arrangements for this sector encompassed by this measure are currently being progressed by the Department of Health.The announcement covers eligible frontline healthcare workers only. I am also mindful of the many, many other workers throughout the country who played their own part during this difficult period. It is difficult to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which frontline healthcare workers faced.
393. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a project will be completed (details supplied). [19018/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
394. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a drug (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19019/22]
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.
In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a 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.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. 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 Minister for Health has no role in these decisions.
The HSE advise that Melatonin (Circadin) has never been available through the Reimbursement List under the Community Drug Schemes. Melatonin (Circadin) underwent a review in 2008 and reimbursement was not recommended by the NCPE as there was insufficient evidence to support the reimbursement of this product under the Community Drug Schemes (available at www.ncpe.ie/drugs/melatonin-circadin/).
The HSE received an application for the pricing and reimbursement of Melatonin (Slenyto) in July 2019 from Flynn Pharma for the treatment of insomnia in children and adolescents aged 2-18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and / or Smith-Magenis syndrome, where sleep hygiene measures have been insufficient.
On 31 July 2019, the HSE requested that Flynn Pharma submit a rapid review dossier to the NCPE for assessment. To date Flynn Pharma has not submitted a rapid review dossier to the NCPE for assessment. Submission of a completed rapid review dossier to the NCPE is required to progress this application, as per the formal processes governing the pricing and reimbursement of medicines.
It is important to note that 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.
Finally, individuals may be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
395. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the updated plan to replace the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland 2014-2018; the timeline for publication; the reason for the delay in publishing a new plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19020/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA disease or disorder is defined as rare in Europe when it affects less than 1 in 2000 people. There are approximately 8,000 known rare diseases; 80% of rare diseases are of genetic origin and are often chronic and life-threatening. Up to 1 person in 12 in Ireland may have a rare disease at some stage in their life. Approximately 300,000 persons in Ireland are living with a rare disease.
Many of the recommendations of the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland (2014 – 2018) have already been implemented including the establishment of a National Rare Disease Office (NRDO) and HSE National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases which has now been operationalised and incorporated into the NRDO which is the main contact point and driver for National HSE rare disease projects and initiatives.
The National Rare Disease Plan elaborates on Ireland’s participation in European Reference Networks (ERN). ERNs are virtual networks involving healthcare providers across Europe where the networking of knowledge and expertise through reference centres and teams of experts takes place. These links are emphasized in the Plan to address the care of patients with rare diseases at both National and European levels. Significant progress has been made with regard to participation in ERNs with Ireland’s 15 applications for entry to ERNs recently being approved from 5 academic hospitals. Entry to these networks commenced on 1 January 2022 and represents a significant achievement for the Irish Health Service which will drive innovation, training and clinical research for highly specialised care. It is also a very positive development for individuals and families affected with rare diseases.
In order to ensure that the input and the voice of the patient is represented in the ongoing work in relation to Rare Diseases, in 2021 I met with the HSE, NRDO and the Rare Diseases Task force which comprises the main rare disease advocacy groups; Rare Disease Ireland (RDI), the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCP), and the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science and Industry (IPPPOSI). At this meeting priority areas for the future were discussed with a view to building further on the significant progress made to date in implementing the Rare Disease Plan. A number, of priority areas for the coming period were agreed including; patient awareness, European Reference Networks, research and registries, access to services, access to medicines, diagnosis, education, legislation and policy.
396. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the provisions that will be included in the health information Bill; when the Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19021/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to bring, shortly, a Memorandum to Government seeking approval-in-principle to prepare the General Scheme of a Health Information Bill. Following Government approval, we will then engage with stakeholders and the public on the envisaged provisions of the Bill, with a view to bringing the General Scheme of the Bill to Government later in 2022.
397. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when disease-specific virtual registries will become operational in the Irish healthcare system; the expected impact this will have on the monitoring of rare-disease prevalence in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19022/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to bring, in April, a Memorandum to Government for approval to prepare the General Scheme of a Health Information Bill. It is envisaged that the Bill will include a provision to enable the operation of disease-specific “virtual” registries, where information on disease diagnoses and treatment from healthcare providers is efficiently collated, combined and quality-checked from administrative records to create a database akin to an active registry for each disease. This will greatly improve the potential to monitor rare-disease prevalence in Ireland.
398. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a report (details supplied) on the drug reimbursement process will be published; the date it was submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19023/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a tender by the Office of Government Procurement, Mazars conducted a review of the governance structures around the HSE's drug reimbursement process. The report was submitted to my Department in January 2020.
The review made recommendations in respect of the HSE’s systems, structures, processes, governance arrangements and use of specialist resources in respect of the drug reimbursement process.
The report was under consideration by officials, however the focus of the Department of Health changed to the immediate public health considerations of the COVID-19 pandemic and the preservation of life. This meant that this work stream was suspended to reallocate resources to support essential services.
My Department aims to complete its consideration of the report’s recommendations when resources permit.
