Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a plan to carry out a full review of Ireland’s system for approving access to and funding new medicines and medical treatments. She said the move represents a positive step for cancer therapies and broader patient care.
The review comes as families affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy welcomed a recommendation to approve Givinostat, a medicine that may slow the progression of the condition.
The HSE Drugs Group recommended approval of the treatment on Wednesday, moving children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy a step closer to accessing the medicine in Ireland.
The Minister for Health has indicated that the review is expected to take around six months. It will form part of wider efforts to ensure that reimbursement decisions for medicines are made within 180 days of applications being submitted by pharmaceutical companies.
She also said the Government is developing an early access programme for treatments for rare diseases. This is intended to help patients access medicines sooner while reimbursement assessments are still ongoing.
Speaking, Deputy McGreehan said:
“This review cannot come quick enough. Life changing medication and treatment is tied up in bureaucracy while those who need it are left to wait and watch in distress.
“Imagine needing a life changing treatment that exists, but being told you will have to wait 877 days to get it. That is the current situation in Ireland.
“These are drugs that have passed safety checks across the European Union and are already in use across Europe. Germany delivers access to patients in under 100 days. Ireland takes almost nine times longer.
“These reforms are needed in an era of rapid change and development in the pharmaceutical industry so that we can benefit from these advances.
“When it comes to new cancer therapies, these treatments could dramatically improve quality of life and survival. However, these advancements are being held back by unnecessary bureaucracy.”
