More will die if drug delays continue, says Vicky
MORE people will die because they can’t access cancer drugs, Vicky Phelan said last night.
She made the stark warning in response to claims Irish patients are among the last in western Europe to have access to vital cancer medicines.
The campaigner, who exposed the Cervical-Check scandal, asked: ‘How many more women with advanced cervical cancer need to die?’
And she asked why Irish patients are not given priority access to drugs made by pharma companies based in Ireland, especially as they benefit from paying low corporation tax.
Seven new cancer medicines available in 12 other EU countries are not yet available in Ireland, according to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association.
It also says persistent delays approving medicines is placing at risk the Government’s target to put Ireland in the top quartile of European countries for cancer survival within the next decade.
The claim is based on new figures to be published today by IPHA in its second quarterly bulletin which monitors and reports on the availability in other EU countries of new medicines awaiting approval in Ireland.
Ms Phelan, who has taken a step back from campaigning, told the Irish Daily Mail last night: ‘I am very disappointed, but not surprised, at Ireland’s position within Europe as one of the poorest performing countries with regard to delays in getting innovative new drugs approved.
‘I am in the unique position of being on one of these drugs that has not yet been approved for cervical cancer in Ireland. Indeed, this drug that I am on, Pembrolizumab, will not be licensed for another two years in Ireland. ‘How many women with advanced cervical cancer will die before this happens?’
The latest figures for medicines awaiting approval in Ireland, against the EU 14, show ten medicines, evaluated through the Health Technology Assessment process, are still not on the reimbursement list for approval.
These medicines are available, on average, in 12 of the 14 EU countries – but they are not routinely available and reimbursed for Irish patients. They have been in the approvals process for more than two years, on average, which is – say the IPHA – ‘an unacceptably long time’.
Oliver O’Connor, IPHA chief executive, said Ireland’s progress in approving innovative medicines for patients remains frustratingly slow, especially for cancer and heart disease. ‘This is very frustrating, both for clinicians and patients, because it shows that Ireland continues to be among the slowest countries in western Europe to be able to access and reimburse innovative medicines. That medicines for cancer and heart disease – Ireland’s two biggest killer diseases – feature so prominently in the list is very concerning.’
On the lack of availability of other cancer drugs, Ms Phelan said that its impact on targets is ‘unacceptable’ and she asked if anybody will actually be held accountable for missing these targets.
She said: ‘People will die and are dying in Ireland as a result of not being able to access these new drugs.
‘Ireland can, and should, do better and this needs to start with patients being put at the centre, not pharmaceuticals or budgetary issues – patients.’ And she added: ‘In my case I would be dead now if I had not fought to get access to the drug I am now on and which has given me back a quality of life.’
The Department of Health said last night it is ‘not in a position to comment on claims... without having sight of the data which substantiates these claims’.
However, it added: ‘The HSE is obliged to ensure that any new drug has sufficient clinical benefit to justify using it and that it is affordable and the best use of finite health resources. Evidence does not support the assertion that Ireland is an outlier when it comes to reimbursement decisions.
‘The HSE has a very good track record in getting drugs approved and reimbursed and the number of applications that are declined or refused is very small.’
‘I would be dead now’