Written Answers Nos. 734-750
734. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by Tallaght University Hospital on private medical and other healthcare services for public patients for each year 2013 to 2022, by provider/consultant for each hospital by service type, in tabular form. [7073/23]
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.
735. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by Rotunda Hospital on private medical and other healthcare services for public patients for each year 2013 to 2022, by provider/consultant for each hospital by service type, in tabular form. [7074/23]
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.
736. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by National Maternity Hospital on private medical and other healthcare services for public patients for each year 2013 to 2022, by provider/consultant for each hospital by service type, in tabular form. [7075/23]
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.
737. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by Coombe Hospital on private medical and other healthcare services for public patients for each year 2013 to 2022, by provider/consultant for each hospital by service type, in tabular form. [7076/23]
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.
739. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the reason cariban is not being prescribed by a GP on the DPS (details supplied); and if he will provide the steps for women to take to help with the extreme nausea and vomiting for the first 12 weeks or until the drug can be accessed. [7078/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023, funding of €32.2 million was announced for Women’s Health Initiatives in 2023.
This included dedicated funding for Cariban® (doxylamine/pyridoxine) to help women who experience hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of nausea and vomiting, during pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum is expected to affect about 1% of the pregnant population.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Good s) Act 2013. Only licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) can be added to the formal reimbursement list.
Cariban® is an Exempt Medicinal Product (EMP), i.e., it is not licensed in Ireland and, therefore, cannot be added to the formal reimbursement list.
The pricing and reimbursement of medicines is a national competence. Different pharmaceutical reimbursement systems are currently in place across the EU. As Member States operate different systems, a direct comparison of the reimbursement of products is not possible. The competent authority for pricing and reimbursement in Ireland is the HSE.
However, following the recommendations of the HSE Medicines Management Programme, and to address the unmet need of patients with hyperemesis gravidarum, reimbursement support for Cariban® (doxylamine/pyridoxine), an unlicensed Exempt Medicinal Product, has now been made available on an individual patient basis for those patients who meet the criteria and where Consultant Obstetrician initiated.
Under the community drug schemes, Exempt Medicinal Products must be Consultant initiated. However, whilst the original prescriber of Cariban® must be a consultant and specialist in the relevant field, the HSE will accept a GP prescription subsequent to the initial hospital prescription for approved patients.
The relevant HSE circular regarding the exceptional arrangement for Cariban® is available at:
www.hse.ie/eng/staff/pcrs/circulars/pharmacy/pharmacy-circular-001-23-cariban.pdf
In order to obtain reimbursement support for Cariban® under this exceptional arrangement, the prescribing consultant must confirm whether the following apply:
- The individual has nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) which requires systemic treatment;
- The individual has been assessed using the pregnancy unique quantification of emesis and nausea (PUQE) assessment tool and the appropriate treatment algorithm has been followed;
- The individual has not responded to conservative management.
The consultant must also make an Unlicensed Product Declaration and submit the completed application form by email to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS).
Once reviewed by the PCRS, the prescriber and dispensing pharmacy are emailed (via secure email) with the reimbursement decision. The community pharmacy then dispenses the product under the specific patient’s community drug schemes eligibility and submits the claim using the relevant administrative code in their monthly submission to PCRS.
While reimbursement support is offered on the basis of the patient’s eligibility under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme or the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), Cariban® is not on the formal reimbursement list.
This exceptional arrangement has been put in place to ensure that those patients suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum have access to Cariban®. The dedicated funding that has been allocated is based on 1% of the pregnant population requiring treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum. The number of approved applications to date indicate that the budget allocated will be used in 2023.
The HSE provides general advice on treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum at:
www2.hse.ie/conditions/hyperemesis-gravidarum/treatment/
741. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated amount spent on private healthcare for public patients via the national treatment purchase fund for each year 2013 to 2022, inclusive, by firm, private hospital, or other private provider, by specialty and by procedure groupings within specialties, in tabular form. [7080/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, the NTPF has provided my Department with the attached table taken from their completed and certified Annual Financial Statements.
The table outlines the total expenditure, both public and private, by specialty for each year 2013 -2021, inclusive. The NTPF has advised that the Annual Financial Statements for 2022 have not yet been completed and certified. The table also shows the total amount spent by the NTPF on patient care expenditure in Private Hospitals for each of the years. The NTPF does not publish details regarding payments to individual private hospitals, as such information is commercially sensitive.
742. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated amount spent on contracting private hospital and community beds for each year 2013 to 2022, by bed type and by provider in tabular form. [7081/23]
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.
743. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the volume and throughput of private patients in each public hospital for each year 2013 to 2022, inclusive, in tabular form; the number of patients seen; and the number of procedures conducted. [7082/23]
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.
744. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by Beaumont Hospital on private medical and other healthcare services for public patients for each year 2013 to 2022, by provider or consultant for each hospital by service type, in tabular form. [7084/23]
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.
745. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the revenue generated by car parking charges for each HSE hospital (details supplied) in each of the years 2013 to 2022, inclusive, in tabular form. [7087/23]
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.
746. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received speech and language therapy for over 14 months; when this child will be scheduled for a speech and language therapy appointment, in view of the child’s urgent need for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7091/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
747. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason children under the age of five years are not treated at minor injury units; the plans he has, if any, to extend such services to children under five years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7099/23]
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.
