Questions

318. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken or commissioned any assessment of the equity implications of current access arrangements for GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines for obesity or weight management, including the extent to which access is determined by capacity to pay out of pocket rather than clinical need; and whether the forthcoming national obesity strategy wil…

320. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current policy position of her Department on whether GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines for obesity or weight management should be eligible for reimbursement under the Drugs Payment Scheme, subject to health technology assessment and clinical governance; whether any policy review is under way in the context of the development of the new national obesity strategy…

321. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the national obesity strategy currently in development will explicitly address the role of pharmacological treatment for obesity, including eligibility, reimbursement pathways, and equity of access; and whether she will outline how medicines policy is being aligned with the objectives of that strategy. [10660/26]

1020. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has undertaken, commissioned, or reviewed any health economic or cost-benefit analysis on the use of GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines, including tirzepatide and semaglutide, for obesity treatment and the prevention of type 2 diabetes; if so, the details and outcomes of any such analysis; and if not, whether she intends to commiss…

1021. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current policy position of her Department regarding the reimbursement of GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines under the Drugs Payment Scheme; whether any review is under way to consider broader eligibility criteria; and the expected timeline for any decision on changes to reimbursement policy. [7677/26]

1022. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines on reducing the future incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and associated complications; whether such preventative outcomes are factored into medicines reimbursement decisions; and if she will outline how prevention-based savings are weighted in funding …

1023. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what consideration has been given to the equity implications of high out-of-pocket costs for GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines; whether the Department has examined the risk of access being determined by ability to pay rather than clinical need; and if she will outline any measures under consideration to address this issue. [7679/26]

382. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when her Department intends to complete the review of national policy governing the use of medications issued under special licence, as recommended by the Cork city coroner in December 2024; the expected date for finalisation of new protocols on hospital administration and clinician supervision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60516/25]

383. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has directed the HSE to issue interim guidance or a temporary clinical protocol governing the administration, supervision and recording of special-licence medications in hospitals pending the completion of a full policy review; if she will publish that guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60517/25]

384. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently in receipt of medications under special licence in Ireland; the number of such patients admitted to hospital in each of the past five years; and the measures being taken to ensure their medication administration is governed by clear and consistent protocols nationwide. [60518/25]

877. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the ongoing shortage of a medication (details supplied), which has now been out of stock for approximately eight months; if she is aware of the impact this shortage is having on long-term patients who have relied on this medication for decades; and if she will confirm when supply is expected to resume. [55143/25]

878. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if contingency arrangements are in place to support patients who have been prescribed alternative medications such as (details supplied), both of which are now also reported to be in short supply, leaving patients without appropriate inhalation therapy; and if she will ensure that the HSE and HPRA work with community pharmacists and wholesalers to secure temporary…

452. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of oncology drugs approved for use by the European Medicines Agency in each of the years 2020 to 2025; and to specify which of these are currently reimbursed under the public health system, which are only available privately, and the average waiting time from EMA approval to HSE reimbursement. [52823/25]

453. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether there are cancer drugs currently accessible to private patients in Ireland which are not reimbursed for public patients; and the steps being taken to eliminate this disparity in access. [52824/25]

194. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason a medication (details supplied), which is used in the treatment of severe allergies, is not currently covered under the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme; if there are plans to include this treatment under either scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50820/25]

2791. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will consider reviewing the current regulatory status of melatonin in Ireland, given that it is available over the counter in many EU countries. [41999/25]

2792. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the rationale for maintaining prescription-only of melatonin access in this jurisdiction. [42000/25]

2793. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will address the significant cost disparity between Irish pharmacy-dispensed melatonin and equivalent products available legally from EU-based manufacturers. [42001/25]

2794. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health 1792 the measures, if any, being considered to ensure price transparency, and to protect patients, particularly those with long-term conditions, from excessive mark-ups for essential medications that are not currently covered under public schemes such as the drug payment scheme or the medical card system. [42002/25]

3019. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the case of an elderly person (details supplied) will be reviewed who was recently removed from the public health nurse service, which had been providing essential vitamin B12 injections on a three-week cycle. [42857/25]

811. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide clarification regarding the rollout of free hormone replacement treatment for all women, which was due to be implemented in January 2025 (details supplied). [13965/25]