Written Answers Nos. 326-332
326. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason that some branded medicines have not been required to be reduced in price following the approval of a generic equivalent, as required by the 2021 industry agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61500/22]
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.
327. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if a higher reimbursement price is granted to unlicensed medicines than the licensed version of the same medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61501/22]
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.
328. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the reason that he has not implemented all of the recommendations set out in an independent review by a person (details supplied) of matters relating to student nurses and midwives; the timeframe within which he intends to implement the outstanding recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61506/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 4 November 2021, following the publication of Longer-Term Review of Matters relating to Student Nurses and Midwives, an independent review, conducted by Mr. Seán McHugh at my request (McHugh Report), I announced that the Government had approved my proposal to provide significant additional supports, worth €12m, for student nurses and midwives while attending their clinical placements. Among these temporary measures, I extended the Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) of €100 per week to all eligible nursing and midwifery students on supernumerary placement to the end of the academic year 2021/22.
I also announced additional support to nursing and midwifery students who require overnight accommodation away from their normal place of residence in order to attend some of their clinical placements. I doubled the cap on the vouched accommodation allowance to €100 per week of placement. Student nurses and midwives (for Academic Year 2021/22) on paid internship placement received additional financial support (50% of the PPG: totalling to €1,800 for the academic year) for the duration of their internship, from 1 January 2022.
These additional supports arose following the publication of the McHugh report which set out a number of recommendations, including an enhanced Travel and Subsistence scheme for students and matters related to uniforms while attending their supernumerary clinical placements. As this is a significant departure from the current position, I have committed to bringing a further proposal to Government setting out how to deal with this recommendation with effect from the start of the 2022/2023 academic year. Along with my Department I have considered a number of options in relation to this recommendation, so that an enhanced scheme can shortly be put in place that will provide a targeted and more equitable approach to supporting students in undertaking their supernumerary clinical placements.
329. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 542 of 16 November 2021, if a clinical review of the medical cannabis access programme has been completed to assess whether there is new information to support the addition of further medical conditions that are able to avail of this programme; if not, the timeframe for this review to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61507/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe review of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme has not been completed and is ongoing. It is expected that the evidence review will be completed by the first half of next year followed by the clinical review.
330. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding student nurses; the reason that many of the recommendations of the McHugh report which were due to be implemented by September 2022 have yet to be implemented, resulting in student nurses and midwives continuing to struggle to meet the costs of their training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61516/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 4 November 2021, following the publication of Longer-Term Review of Matters relating to Student Nurses and Midwives, an independent review, conducted by Mr. Seán McHugh at my request (McHugh Report), I announced that the Government had approved my proposal to provide significant additional supports, worth €12m, for student nurses and midwives while attending their clinical placements. Among these temporary measures, I extended the Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) of €100 per week to all eligible nursing and midwifery students on supernumerary placement to the end of the academic year 2021/22.
I also announced additional support to nursing and midwifery students who require overnight accommodation away from their normal place of residence in order to attend some of their clinical placements. I doubled the cap on the vouched accommodation allowance to €100 per week of placement. Student nurses and midwives (for Academic Year 2021/22) on paid internship placement received additional financial support (50% of the PPG: totalling to €1,800 for the academic year) for the duration of their internship, from 1 January 2022.
These additional supports arose following the publication of the McHugh report which set out a number of recommendations, including an enhanced Travel and Subsistence scheme for students and matters related to uniforms while attending their supernumerary clinical placements. As this is a significant departure from the current position, I have committed to bringing a further proposal to Government setting out how to deal with this recommendation with effect from the start of the 2022/2023 academic year. Along with my Department I have considered a number of options in relation to this recommendation, so that an enhanced scheme can shortly be put in place that will provide a targeted and more equitable approach to supporting students in undertaking their supernumerary clinical placements.
331. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the position regarding section 38 workers; if funding has been made available to ensure these workers receive the pay awards agreed under the Building Momentum pay agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61518/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
332. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he, his Department, or representatives of the HSE have met or will meet with representatives of a group (details supplied) to discuss its concerns on vaccine-related side effects; if he can detail the safeguards and measures taken by the HSE and his Department to monitor and review the effectiveness and health impacts of the ongoing vaccine programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61519/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my department.
The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is the body which can authorise vaccines for EU Member States. In relation to COVID19, the EMA and its scientific committees are supported by the COVID-19 EMA pandemic task force, a group that brings together experts from across the European medicines regulatory network to facilitate rapid and coordinated regulatory action on medicines and vaccines for COVID-19.
It is important to reiterate that all medicines, including vaccines are subject to on-going review and evaluation of all available data from a range of sources, including systematic scientific literature review, to consider any impact that their data may have on the overall assessment of the benefits and risks of a medicinal product. The safety of these vaccines continues to be monitored at EU level through the EMA and its expert committees, which includes representatives from member state competent authorities such as the HPRA.
The manufacturer of vaccines must also comply with good manufacturing standards and regulatory requirements in EU and national legislation to ensure that the materials and methods used are appropriate. Vaccine manufacturers are subject to independent assessment and inspection by national medicines agencies.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is responsible for monitoring the safety and quality of all medicines including vaccines that are licensed in Ireland. The HPRA and the EMA continually monitor any adverse reactions to vaccination. The HPRA operates a national adverse reaction reporting system, which members of the public and healthcare professionals are encouraged to submit any suspected adverse reactions to. All reports received by the HPRA are routinely transmitted to the EMA's adverse reaction database for inclusion in global signal detection and monitoring activities.
Whilst I can not answer for the HSE, to my knowledge neither I nor my officials have met with the group to which the Deputy refers. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy to answer on their behalf the queries raised in the question.
