A man whose wife is fighting an extremely rare, life-threatening disease has appealed to the public to help her secure a drug that could turn her life around.

HSE chief Tony O’Brien has warned that there is a “finite” amount of money for new drugs next year.

A medicine shortage caused by excessive drug price cuts imposed by the HSE is having a negative impact on patient care, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

The head of the HSE has admitted that the rest of the health service will have to suffer because of a decision to pay for expensive drugs for two patients with a rare blood disorder.

A family may have to sell their farm and move to Britain where their teenage girl can receive a lifesaving drug for a rare blood condition.