The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement under the community schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including clinical efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
I, as the Minister for Health, have no role in these decisions.
The Health Information and Quality Authority completed a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in respect of the provision of glucose monitoring systems to adults with Type I diabetes in Ireland. This was published on 29 September 2023 and can be read at www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessment/rapid-health-technology-assessment-continuous.
The HTA advises the HSE that a single managed access programme with clearly defined eligibility criteria would improve equity of access and could help to control costs.