Agreement promises faster access to more cost-effective treatments

A key feature of the new agreement between the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, the HSE, and Department of Health, announced last week, is the promise of faster access to medicines once they have been proven to be cost-effective.

From Sept 2011 to Jun 2012, at least eight new drugs were deemed cost-effective — but were not available for patients through the reimbursement schemes. These included drugs for multiple sclerosis, heart conditions, bipolar disorder, and hepatitis C.

Therefore the new agreement is good news for patients, for whom access delays to cost-effective medicines should be reduced, meaning patients will have faster access to life-saving drugs.