Joan Collins
Ceist:432. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients that suffer from sleep apnoea within CHO7, in tabular form. [27993/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Data
Ceisteanna (432)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (433)
Joan Collins
Ceist:433. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant orthopaedic surgeons and orthopaedic registrars at St. James's Hospital in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [27994/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (434)
Michael Ring
Ceist:434. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when his Department will provide clarity in order that a former HSE employee (details supplied) will receive their pension and net lump gratuity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27995/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (435)
Joan Collins
Ceist:435. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of cataract surgeries carried out at the Mater Hospital in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27997/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the issue raised by the Deputy, with regard to the number of cataract surgeries carried out at the Mater Hospital in 2023 and to date in 2024; is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (436)
Joan Collins
Ceist:436. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the rollout of oral immunotherapy for children; the locations of each facility in which this treatment is dispensed; and the funding and timeline for same. [27998/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (437)
Joan Collins
Ceist:437. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE clinical nurse specialist in developmental care at the Coombe Maternity Hospital in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [27999/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (438)
Joan Collins
Ceist:438. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of resuscitation bays in each hospital part of Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, in tabular form. [28000/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (439)
Joan Collins
Ceist:439. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant plastic surgeons at Tallaght University Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [28003/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (440)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:440. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the current diagnostic pathway for sufferers of suspected fibromyalgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28008/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (441)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:441. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the current general systematic plan for pain management of fibromyalgia sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28009/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (442)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:442. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 848 and 849 of 11 June 2024, which failed to answer the questions submitted, if a reply will issue that responds to the matters raised (details supplied). [28033/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (443)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:443. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health to provide the funding details for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28039/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Eating Disorders
Ceisteanna (444)
Cormac Devlin
Ceist:444. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the 11 CAMHS/AMHS specialised hubs for eating disorders that have been opened nationwide, since the conception of the Model of Care in 2018; the number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the service; the number of vacancies on 1 June 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28050/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (445)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:445. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if all public sector pay increases for bus drivers who provide transport through agencies for special needs children has been implemented by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28054/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (446)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:446. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health to detail all staff based in the special care baby unit at a hospital (details supplied) in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28060/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (447)
Robert Troy
Ceist:447. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently expedite the approval of fenfluramine for the treatment of dravet syndrome (details supplied). [28063/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (448)
Robert Troy
Ceist:448. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the funding of a specific drug for a child, on compassionate grounds (details supplied). [28064/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Departmental Correspondence
Ceisteanna (449)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:449. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review case (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28065/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (450)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:450. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health his position regarding indicative timelines for a medicine to complete the application/approval process which he committed to in February 2023; if these have been introduced as per his request to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28068/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 has been granted. 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. Funding has also been approved for an online tracker which will allow patients and industry to follow the progress of an application through the assessment process. This will enhance transparency for all stakeholders.
Investing in this capacity will support agencies to operate to the fullest of their ability, providing timely and efficient evaluation of medicines for reimbursement.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (451)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:451. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason no pathfinder programmes, such as the one recently announced for the RSV vaccine, have been implemented for cancer patients in need of newly licenced oncology medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28069/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State is committed to providing timely access to new and innovative medicines to all patients. Budgets 2021 to 2023 saw almost €100 million allocated for the reimbursement of new drugs, enabling the HSE to approve 148 new medicines. This included 61 oncology medicines.
Budget 2024 made €30 million available for new drugs. €20 million of this will be invested directly by the Government and a further €10 million will come from efficiencies to be identified by the HSE. Efficiencies were identified as a priority for 2024 by the Minister, with a joint HSE-Department of Health Taskforce established to address medicine expenditure.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the 2013 Act. Reimbursement is for licenced 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.
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.
In 2024, there will be significant investment in additional staff resources to enhance the HSE’s medicines pricing and reimbursement process.
Funding has been allocated for an additional 34 WTE for the agencies involved in the HSE’s medicines pricing and reimbursement system has been granted. 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 cancer medicines for reimbursement.