Tagrisso approval for lung cancer
Deputy Moynihan urged immediate approval of Tagrisso for advanced lung cancer, citing a seriously ill constituent. The Taoiseach said medicine licensing and reimbursement decisions are for the relevant regulatory and health bodies, not political intervention.
I ask about the approval of the drug Tagrisso for the treatment of advanced lung cancer. I believe the drug is going through the process of approval. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene to try to ensure it is approved. I know somebody who is very seriously ill and this drug would prolong their life. It is in the final stages of the approval process as I understand it. I ask the Taoiseach to use his good offices to get the drug approved with immediate effect.
Comment on this
I am afraid I cannot intervene on such a matter. The decision to license a medicine is for the Health Products Regulatory Authority or the European Medicines Agency. The Oireachtas passed legislation to ensure that decisions on which medicines are reimbursed are not political decisions and should be made objectively by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. About 30 new medicines this year have been approved for reimbursement. I am sure more will be approved, but they must meet the criteria and done within the law passed by this House.