Parliamentary questions

768. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the oversight mechanisms that are in place to monitor rejection rates for commonly prescribed medicines under the general medical services scheme, including respiratory medications; and whether any review of rejection patterns has been conducted in the past three years. [28067/26]

769. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any audit or validation exercise has been conducted on the accuracy and consistency of claim rejections by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service in 2024 or 2025; and if so, to provide details of the findings and any actions taken. [28068/26]

770. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive assesses the patient impact of rejected or unpaid pharmacy claims under the general medical services scheme; and if so, to outline the methodology used and any findings in relation to essential medicines. [28069/26]

771. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any medicines were removed from, or had their reimbursement status altered within, the Primary Care Reimbursement Service systems in 2024 and 2025 which resulted in rejected claims; and to provide details of such medicines and the dates of change [28070/26]

772. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of rejected or unpaid pharmacy claims under the general medical services scheme in 2024 and 2025 attributable to administrative or submission errors; and the measures in place to reduce such errors. [28071/26]

773. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE maintains any national database or registry recording clinical outcomes for patients who undergo procedures abroad under the treatment abroad scheme; if not, the reason no such system exists; and if she will outline any plans to establish one. [28074/26]

774. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms that are in place to ensure long-term follow-up care for patients undergoing procedures abroad under the treatment abroad scheme, and whether compliance with follow-up protocols is monitored or audited. [28076/26]

775. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any audits have been conducted since 2020 on clinical outcomes or patient safety in respect of procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, to provide details; if not, the reason none have been undertaken. [28077/26]

776. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if she will consider making versatis patches available to a wider cohort of patients as some patients, including a person (details supplied) are unable to sleep for prolonged periods, and are forced to sleep in a sitting position, due to nerve pain; if she will recognise that for some patients this is the only relief available for them and they…

777. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if she will consider making versatis patches available to a wider cohort of patients as some patients, including a person (details supplied) are unable to sleep for prolonged periods, and are forced to sleep in a sitting position, due to nerve pain; if she will recognise that for some patients this is the only relief available for them and they…

778. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of cases of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease that are attributable to obesity in Ireland; the annual treatment cost to the HSE for these obesity-related conditions; the estimated share of total healthcare expenditure linked to obesity-related disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28095/26]

779. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost to the HSE of treating obesity and obesity-related conditions between 2020 to date; the breakdown of this cost, across hospital care, primary care, pharmaceuticals and community services, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28096/26]

780. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE has projected the cost to the health service over the next ten years if obesity prevalence continues to rise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28097/26]

781. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the Department’s projections for future obesity prevalence in Ireland; the projected healthcare expenditure associated with obesity to 2030 and 2040; the expected impact on health service capacity, workforce demand and public expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28098/26]

782. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has assessed the potential healthcare savings from expanded obesity treatment programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28099/26]

783. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the regional prevalence of obesity in Ireland; the regions with the highest hospital admission rates for obesity-related illness; the steps being taken to address health inequalities linked to obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28100/26]

784. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal requirement exists obliging clinicians to report clinical outcomes, complications, and follow-up care requirements to the Health Service Executive or her Department in respect of procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if not, whether she will introduce such a requirement. [28101/26]

785. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive maintains any centralised or national system for the monitoring, recording, or analysis of clinical outcomes, complication rates, or long-term healthcare impacts for patients who receive procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if not, the reason for the absence of such a sy…

786. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms n place at a national level to evaluate patient safety, treatment effectiveness, and long-term health outcomes in respect of procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme, in the absence of a centralised outcomes monitoring system. [28103/26]

787. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any audits, reviews, or evaluations have been conducted by her Department or the Health Service Executive into clinical outcomes, complication rates, or follow-up care requirements arising from procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme since 2020; and if so, to provide details including dates, scope, and findings. [28104/26]

788. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether national clinical guidelines or standardised protocols are in place governing follow-up care for patients returning to the State after receiving procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if not, whether such guidelines will be developed. [28105/26]

789. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the body or unit within her Department or the Health Service Executive holds responsibility at a national level for oversight of clinical outcomes, complication reporting, and long-term follow-up in respect of procedures funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. [28106/26]

790. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if the HSE have engaged with the owners of a former nursing home (details supplied) regarding a potential purchase of the site with a view to opening a HSE-run nursing home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28107/26]

791. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to clarify the apparent discrepancy whereby expenditure was recorded under the treatment abroad scheme for paediatric gender services in 2024 despite no referrals being recorded in that year; and to outline the accounting and reporting methodology used to link expenditure to individual patient referral years. [28108/26]

792. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme records total cost per patient episode, including multi-year treatment costs; and if she will provide the average and total cost per minor referred for gender-related treatment abroad since 2020. [28109/26]