Emphysema Patients to lose access to drug in three weeks

“They’ve pulled the plug on us. It’s shattering news.”

John Hannan, aged 68, was returning home to Mallow by train yesterday from Dublin to break the news to his family that, three weeks from today, his access to a drug shown to slow down his genetic emphysema will be no more.

Although the HSE said last month that the State was not prepared to reimburse the cost of Respreeza, estimated at around €84,000 per patient, the 21 beneficiaries had still hoped for a breakthrough.