1044. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health whether he was made aware of the withdrawal from the Irish market of a number of presentations of medications (palladone, MST, oxycontin and targin) which are predominantly used by patients with life-limiting illness, by a manufacturer (details supplied), on the basis that the supply of these medications are not commercially viable in light of Brexit and the Windsor Framework; and if so, the measures he is taking to ensure that undue hardship is not caused to patients, by continuing the supply of these medications through sourcing an alternative manufacturer or supplies to the Irish market, or by making the necessary changes to the import licence requirements overseen by the Health Products Regulatory Agency, in order that these essential medications can be imported into the country from other EU Member States. [44074/24]

Dear Deputy Costello,

In order to fully answer your questions, my Officials have engaged with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), as medicines regulator. The HPRA have advised that with relation to a rationalisation of the Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals Limited product portfolio, their opinion is that the withdrawal of these products are neither Brexit or Windsor Framework related.

The HPRA website  maintains a list of withdrawn product authorisations. The decision to withdraw a product authorisation is one taken by the Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH), in this case Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals Limited. The MAH is continuing to market alternative presentations of Palladone, MST, OxyContin and Targin in Ireland.

My Department would advise that if patients or their carers have concerns in relation to the availability of their medicines that they engage with their primary physician who can advise of alternative treatments for them, if required.