This week, Professor John Crown raised concerns regarding cancer patients with private health insurance in respect of not getting timely access to vital cancer medicines. There were major discrepancies regarding timely interventions by private health insurance companies. There were some waiting periods of up to two years in respect of these vital medicines. The Irish Cancer Society has stated there needs to be fairer access to drugs via standardisation through Sláintecare. Is it Government policy to standardise access to these vital medicines, whether patients are public or private?

The Government wishes to provide all the access we can to important medicines that we know make such a difference to the lives and health of those battling cancer. I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputy and I believe it is the case that the only treatments approved by the HSE have been ones eligible for credits from the high-cost claims pool within the risk equalisation scheme that underpins the community-rated market. There is a lot in this, so I will ensure that the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is made aware the Deputy has raised this matter. I know he wishes to ensure as much accessibility as possible to these important medicines. I will make sure he writes to the Deputy with a fuller update on this issue.