Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
91. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if she will meet with the HSE to discuss broadening the criteria to provide access to continuous glucose monitoring sensors to more diabetics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17802/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health and the HSE meet regularly to discuss all issues of relevance to health service provision, including continuous glucose monitors.
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 and devices.
The Act provides a rigorous process for the assessment of new medicines and devices for reimbursement. The Act specifies nine criteria which must be considered. These include the health needs of the public and the clinical need for the medicine. All these factors, taken together, allow the HSE to make an informed decision on new medicines and devices.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Rapid Health Technology Assessment (HTA) of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus was published on 29th September 2023.
The published document can be found at: Rapid Health Technology Assessment of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus | HIQA
Following the recommendations in this HTA, the HSE-MMP in conjunction with the HSE-PCRS, and with the support of the HSE Chief Clinical Officer, introduced an online reimbursement application system for CGM sensors on 1st December 2023. In the 13 months of operation of the reimbursement application system up to 31 December 2024, 3,165 additional patients have been approved for reimbursement support for CGM sensors. This represents an additional investment by the HSE of approximately €9.7 million across the first full year of reimbursement support for these patients. In December 2024, 19,861 patients were in receipt of CGM sensors under the Community Drug Schemes.
To date, a HTA of CGM sensors for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, type 3c diabetes, or other types of diabetes excluded from the HTA referenced above, such as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), monogenic forms of diabetes etc. has not been undertaken. Therefore, there is limited information to support the extension of reimbursement to this cohort, including cost-effectiveness assessment and budget impact of same.
The HSE-MMP and National Clinical Programme for Diabetes, with the support of the HSE Chief Clinical Officer, submitted a joint proposal requesting HIQA to consider including a HTA of CGM for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes in their 2026 workplan. A HTA could identify if CGM technology is clinically and cost-effective in patients with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes, which populations of patients will likely derive greatest benefit from the availability of CGM, and could support decision making regarding long-term funding and availability of this technology.
