546. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for a cystic fibrosis drug called Orkambi. [46455/15]

552. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to treat cystic fibrosis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46506/15]

556. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi is made available at an early date as it is life-transforming to patients who have qualified for the drug and enables them lead a reasonable quality of life (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46520/15]

561. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he has completed a cost-benefit analysis on the introduction of the drug Orkambi for patients with cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46554/15]

583. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health to support a matter (details supplied) regarding cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46693/15]

596. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will make Orkambi available to patients with DDF508 cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46803/15]

613. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) from Cystic Fibrosis Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46849/15]

662. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health to take steps to make the drug Orkambi available to persons suffering from cystic fibrosis. [1236/16]

665. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of cystic fibrosis patients (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1258/16]

693. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of Orkambi to cystic fibrosis patients, where appropriate to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1431/16]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 546, 552, 556, 561, 583, 596, 613, 662, 665 and 693 together.

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to reimbursing any medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available to the HSE.

The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). They are not political or ministerial decisions. The NCPE conducts the health technology assessment of pharmaceutical products for the HSE, and can make recommendations on reimbursement to assist the HSE in its decision-making process.

Orkambi™ is currently being considered by the HSE under the national medicines pricing and reimbursement assessment process. As the assessment process is ongoing, it is not possible to discuss potential outcomes or comment further at this time.