Respreeza for Alpha-1 patients
The Healy-Raes dispute who should speak before Michael Healy-Rae raises concern for 21 Alpha-1 patients needing Respreeza on a compassionate basis. The Tánaiste says the Health Minister has acted on other drugs and will liaise directly with the Deputy about this case.
I ask a representative of the Rural Independent Group to speak. Its members may sort it out themselves.
Comment on this
The programme for Government refers to driving down the cost of providing new treatments, drugs, etc. It asserts that the Government will examine opportunities to leverage purchasing power. The Tánaiste is aware that yesterday 21 patients from the Alpha-1 group who are receiving Respreeza on a compassionate basis came to voice their concerns. They are living on borrowed time because of the simple fact that they do not have a surety that this much-needed drug will be provided. Will the Tánaiste, in conjunction with the Minister for Health, please see after them? They have come here twice in the past few weeks.
Comment on this
The Deputy has seen the actions of the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, to provide the drug Orkambi, for example. He has taken a decision to make the drug available. The development of new drugs and the state's capacity to make them available are very big issue for governments, not just in Ireland but internationally. I will ask the Minister to liaise directly with the Deputy on the particular drug to which he has referred.