David Cullinane
Question:397. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of 1,000,000 home support hours. [30407/24]
View answerHome Help Service
Questions (397)
Written answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Questions (398)
David Cullinane
Question:398. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of 100 intensive home care packages. [30408/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (399)
David Cullinane
Question:399. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of achieving the living wage for home support workers and home care workers; the cost of full compensation for mileage and travel and any associated costs. [30409/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (400)
David Cullinane
Question:400. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing funding for healthy age friendly homes by 10%. [30410/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Addiction Treatment Services
Questions (401)
David Cullinane
Question:401. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of returning local and regional drug and alcohol task force funding to 2010 levels; the cost of a further 10% increase. [30411/24]
View answerWritten answers
Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and in coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities.
Every effort has been made to protect the budgets of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in recent years. In excess of €27.88m in core funding has been allocated to Task Forces by the HSE and the Department of Health for community-based drugs initiatives this year.
The cost of a further 10% increase is approximately €2.78m. The cost to return funding levels to 2010 allocations is approximately €3m.
Addiction Treatment Services
Questions (402)
David Cullinane
Question:402. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current cost of a 10% expenditure increase in rehabilitation and detoxification residential treatment; the number of sessions this relates to, and the number of spaces required; the current cost of 100 additional places and the number of sessions this would provide, for each; and any associated capital costs. [30412/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Medicinal Products
Questions (403)
David Cullinane
Question:403. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of medicine pricing applications submitted to the primary care reimbursement service of the HSE to date in 2024, in tabular form; the submission date of each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30413/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Questions (404)
David Cullinane
Question:404. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of medicine pricing applications in total currently under consideration by the primary care reimbursement service of the HSE, in tabular form; the submission date of each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30414/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Questions (405)
David Cullinane
Question:405. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of medicine pricing applications submitted to the primary care reimbursement service of the HSE in 2023, in tabular form; the submission date of each application; the status of each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30415/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Questions (406)
David Cullinane
Question:406. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if, given the ongoing issue of medicine shortages, he has concerns as to the period of time it is taking from application to outcome for medicine pricing applications to be adjudicated; if he is giving consideration to making operational and/or resourcing enhancements to reduce the waiting time duration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30416/24]
View answerWritten answers
The shortage of some medicines are a feature of modern health systems worldwide which have been exacerbated by recent worldwide events. There are a multitude of reasons why a medicine may not be available including: shortages of raw materials; manufacturing difficulties; sudden unexpected increase in demand; or product recalls due to potential quality issues.
In February 2023 the Mazars Review was published which examined the governance arrangements around the HSE’s Drug Pricing and Reimbursement Process. The Report found that the reimbursement process is operating in line with the legislation and that it is delivering results in line with international norms. The recommendations contained in the Mazars report included improving the process, increasing transparency, providing easier access, and supporting value for money.
In 2024, there will be significant investment in additional staff resources to enhance the HSE’s medicines pricing and reimbursement process. This is a recommendation of the working group established following the publication of the Mazars ‘Review of the Governance Arrangements and the Resources in place to support the HSE’s reimbursement and pricing decision-making process’ in February 2023.
Funding has been allocated for an additional 34 WTE for the agencies involved in the HSE’s medicines pricing and reimbursement system. This will enable them to conduct timely and efficient evaluations of medicines for reimbursement. It will also maximise the use of this substantial public investment to support access to more medicines for more people. This recruitment process has commenced and is ongoing.
Investing in this capacity will support agencies to operate to the fullest of their ability, providing timely and efficient evaluation of medicines for reimbursement.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the 2013 Act. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority. In line with the 2013 Act, and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must first submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
The timing of company applications for reimbursement in different countries can vary for a number of reasons, not least the available market share in each country. Once a company responsible for the commercialisation of a new medicine receives market authorisation, it can apply for reimbursement in the country (or countries) of its choice. Ireland, by virtue of its size and market share, may not always be prioritised by a company in the first stages of marketing a new product. Describing timelines for reimbursement from EMA approval to HSE reimbursement approval does not consider this important factor and misrepresents the process, as statutorily the HSE cannot add a medicine to the reimbursement list until an application is received from the company holding the market authorisation.
When an application is made to have a product added to the reimbursement list in Ireland, the HSE is required, under the 2013 Act, to decide within 180 days of receiving the application, to either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or refuse to reimburse the medicine. In assessing the application, the HSE is required by statute to consider a range of criteria including the magnitude of the clinical effect, cost effectiveness, budget impact, opportunity cost and unmet need.
Health Services Staff
Questions (407)
David Cullinane
Question:407. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE posts allocated to cancer services as per his letter of determination to the HSE outlining his funding priorities following Budget 2024; the overall number of WTE posts allocated to health services for 2024; and the number of WTE posts allocated to each of safe staffing, critical care, urgent and emergency care, cancer services and HIQA, in tabular form. [30417/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Cannabis for Medicinal Use
Questions (408, 409)
David Cullinane
Question:408. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health for an update on the medical cannabis access programme; the number of approved products under the scheme; the number of actively supplied products under the scheme which are available in the state; the number of individuals availing of the scheme; and the number of individuals approved for the scheme who cannot access a product on the scheme. [30418/24]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:409. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he is considering any products or conditions for addition to the medical cannabis access programme. [30419/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together.
There are 10 products meeting the definition of "specified controlled drug" in S.I. 262/2019, the Misuse Of Drugs (Prescription And Control Of Supply Of Cannabis For Medical Use) Regulations 2019, however 2 products, made by Aurora, have not been brought to market by the manufacturer.
There are 55 approved individuals on the MCAP register since its implementation in November 2021. The HSE, operationally responsible for the MCAP, is not aware of any patients who cannot access the products under MCAP.
Prospective suppliers of products to the Medical Cannabis Access Programme can apply to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), acting on behalf of the Minister for Health, to have a cannabis product considered for inclusion in the schedule to the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019. Applicants must provide evidence to demonstrate that the proposed cannabis product meets the requirements of a ‘specified controlled drug’ as defined in the MCAP legislation. The onus is on prospective suppliers to submit applications to the HPRA. The HPRA is currently considering 3 applications for products to be added to the MCAP.
My Department is in the process of establishing a Clinical Review Group. While I cannot put a definitive timeline on the work of the clinical review group, it is my ambition that the review will be completed by the end of this year.
Upon completing its work, the clinical review group will make recommendations to me as Minister for Health as to whether there is sufficient evidence to include other conditions in the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.
Question No. 409 answered with Question No. 408.
Cannabis for Medicinal Use
Questions (410)
David Cullinane
Question:410. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of Ministerial licenses currently in use for medical cannabis. [30420/24]
View answerWritten answers
A Ministerial Licence issued pursuant to Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, entitles the clinician licensee to prescribe, import, supply, possess and administer a cannabis-based product containing Tetrahydrocannabinol.
To date 372 Ministerial Licences have been issued to clinicians for the treatment of 77 different patients. Currently 28 patients are being treated under the programme.