My question relates to A Programme for a Partnership Government and, in particular, care of the elderly and hospital avoidance measures. The Versatis patch has been the subject of debate on the public airwaves for the past two weeks. The patches are being used off-licence, as are many other medications in Ireland. If medication was only to be used on licence, very little would be used. Many medications have an indication but are found to work in many other illnesses. Will the Minister for Health ask the HSE to remove the blanket ban on the prescription of Versatis patches? The proof of the pudding is that the patches are clinically efficacious in patients. Neuropathic pain is not all postherpetic neuropathic pain. Many neuropathic pains can be treated with Versatis and confining it to one illness is not appropriate, particularly as many other medications are used off-licence. I request that the Minister ask the HSE to review this issue.

I appreciate Deputy Harty's question and his medical knowledge in this regard. However, there is no blanket ban in regard to Versatis being provided off-licence. In fact, as the Taoiseach already outlined to the House, over 850 patients have been approved for off-licence use during the clinical process where a GP has lodged an appeal with the medicines management programme. Approximately one third of those approved for Versatis have received it to treat off-licence conditions. The Government and I have asked that the HSE applies maximum compassion and common sense in this appeals process and I believe it will do so.

It is an appalling decision.