HSE waits four months to buy skin cancer drug

HSE chiefs were given the green light to buy a costly new skin cancer drug four months ago, but only made the move last night after a major political storm “concentrated minds”.

The Irish Examiner understands the National Cancer Control Platform told HSE officials in January it was in favour of purchasing Ipilimumab for use in Ireland.

The National Centre for Pharmaeconomic financial calculations said the drug, which costs €85,000 per patient and on average only lengthens life by months or years, did not represent value for money.