Crucial Medicines - ‘Compassion’ plea to cancer drug companies

Minister for Health Simon Harris yesterday appealed to the manufacturers of two cancer drugs to show “compassion” by continuing to provide the medicines, while they are under review, to patients who need them.

A HSE taskforce is likely to decide by this Thursday whether or not to approve paying out for Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab.

Speaking to the media, Mr Harris said that as part of the last Budget, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform had ruled that drugs above a certain threshold would have to be sanctioned by the Government.