Thursday, 14 Dec 2017

Written Answers Nos. 410-421

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Medicinal Products

Questions (410)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

410. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the additional resources that have been provided to ensure that the assessment process for new medicines is implemented effectively. [53861/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

General Practitioner Training

Questions (411)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

411. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if new arrangements for management of general practitioners training involving the Irish College of General Practitioners have been finalised and implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53862/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As GP training is currently the responsibility of the HSE, I have arranged for the question to be transferred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Questions Nos. 412 to 414, inclusive, answered with Question No. 392.

Medicinal Products Availability

Questions (415, 416)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

415. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if regulations to allow for the introduction of buprenorphine naloxone and buprenorphine products have been agreed and introduced. [53866/17]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

416. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the working group to progress increased access to buprenorphine naloxone and buprenorphine products. [53867/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.

In January 2016, the Director General of the HSE submitted the final report of the Opioid Substitution Implementation Group to the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy. The report recommends the phased increased access to buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) for groups of patients in specific circumstances, subject to resourcing and the required legislation being enacted.

Approximately 80 people currently receive suboxone for opioid dependence and are registered on the Central Treatment List (CTL) on an informal basis. For the feasibility study, the CTL was required to set up, manage and maintain a separate national database for all clients in receipt of buprenorphine/naloxone treatment. However, unlike the CTL for Methadone this did not have a statutory footing.

New Regulations, the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone and Medicinal Products containing Buprenorphine authorised for Opioid Substitution Treatment) Regulations 2017 came into effect on 22 November 2017. The purpose of these Regulations is to provide access to certain buprenorphine-based medicinal products for Opioid Substitution Treatment (including buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine only) on the same statutory basis as methadone.

Questions Nos. 417 to 421, inclusive, answered with Question No. 392.

• Written Answers Nos. 395-409
• Written Answers Nos. 422-436