Medicinal Products

178. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the average length of time taken for non-oncology orphan medicines to receive a final reimbursement decision from the HSE Drugs Group after the submission of a pricing application by a manufacturer, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60303/25]

179. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of non-oncology orphan medicines which were approved by the HSE drugs group in each year from 2015 to 2025 and which did not satisfy the QALY threshold for cost-effectiveness, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60304/25]

180. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of new medicines which were submitted to the NCPE in each year between 2015 and 2025; to provide a breakdown of the number of these new medicines that were non-oncology orphan medicinal products, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60305/25]

181. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of non-oncology orphan medicinal products which were referred to the HSE drugs group by the NCPE in each year between 2015 and 2025; to provide a breakdown of the number of successful, negative and pending reimbursement decisions for such products, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60306/25]

182. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the average length of time taken for non-oncology orphan medicines to receive a final reimbursement decision from the HSE drugs group after the submission of a pricing application by a manufacturer, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60307/25]

183. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health her proposals to ensure that patients are not forced to absorb the cost of blister-pack packaged medication, which assists patients to monitor their dosage under complex medication regimes safely and independently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60312/25]

1635. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if ozempic, is available under the drugs payment scheme (DPS) or general medical services card for patients who have had it prescribed; if not, whether there are alternatives available under the DPS/GMS that a patient may instead discuss with their GP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57820/25]

1636. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if ozempic, is available to a GMS patient (details supplied) who has been prescribed same by their endocrinologist and diabetes specialist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57821/25]

1650. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the steps she will take to engage with the market authorisation holders of medications (details supplied) to submit pricing and reimbursement applications for these drug treatments to commence in patients over 18 years of age who are diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57883/25]

1712. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health to consider making melatonin available through the drugs payment scheme for neurodiverse children to assist with sleeping; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58108/25]

1758. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the approval of linzagolix by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics for the public prescription of this particular drug; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58304/25]

1817. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to including the shingles vaccine (Herpes Zoster Vaccine) in the national immunisation programme, specifically for those with immunocompromising conditions, as recommended by NIAC in February 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58694/25]

1819. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure a life changing prostate cancer medication (details supplied) will be made available to medically suitable patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58715/25]

1994. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a medication (details supplied) will be available again here, for prescription for patients of the menopause hub; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59569/25]

1995. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 766 of 21 October 2025, if she will provide a detailed update on the progress of the best value medicines programme in achieving its stated target of at least 80% of individuals being in receipt of the best value medicine; if she will provide a breakdown of uptake levels by each target area; and if she wi…

1996. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if there are any policy proposals or changes planned that will assist how the best value medicines programme contributes to reducing the financial burden on the HSE’s medicines budget and assists in securing access for patients to new and innovative treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59593/25]

1997. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health to outline the expected policy changes planned to achieve the Programme for Government commitment to “ensuring that patients have access to new innovative new medicines and treatments as quickly as possible”; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59594/25]

233. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if her Department is considering the inclusion of ozempic on the long-term illness and medical card schemes for purposes such as the maintenance of kidney function and not for the treatment of diabetes or weight management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57673/25]

678. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the Government’s response for Irish survivors of thalidomide; the engagements she has had with representative groups or individuals since coming into office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56682/25]

757. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the total budget allocated for spending on medicines by the HSE in each of the past five years; the outturn expenditure on medicines in each of those years; the projected allocation for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56629/25]

758. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the HSE expenditure on medicines for each of the past five years, by category (including high-tech medicines, biologics, biosimilars, generics and community drug schemes); the projected spend for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56630/25]

759. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health her plans to revise the national uptake targets for each medicine in the best value medicines programme; if so, the targets and the date she expects them to be met; the reasons for the targets not being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56631/25]

760. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the uptake rates for each best value medicine by hospital group or clinical site; to identify those that are underperforming against the targets set by the HSE to save money for the HSE; the specific actions she will take to bring prescribing into line with HSE policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56632/25]

761. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the total additional cost to the HSE resulting from sub-optimal uptake of best value medicines since the programme was introduced; and the impact this has had on access to new medicines for patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56633/25]

762. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of clinicians that continue to prescribe higher-cost originator medicines contrary to the HSE's best value medicines guidance; the measures which will be introduced to ensure adherence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56634/25]