Simon Harris seeks CF drug alliance

The health minister has written to his ministerial counterparts in England, Scotland, Canada and Australia proposing they work together to access a new cystic fibrosis wonder drug at a “cost-effective price”.

The Department of Health and HSE is under sustained pressure from CF advocacy groups after it emerged that the HSE’s drugs committee would recommend this drug is not made available to patients as it is five times too expensive.

Health services in England, Scotland, Canada and Australia are also in negotiations with Vertex, the pharmaceutical company that makes Orkambi.