Cllr calls for Emphysema drugfunding

COUNCILLOR Michael Cahill has called on Minister for Health Simon Harris to fund Respreeza, after the Emphysema drug’s manufacturers, CSL Behring, decided it would end its long-running compassionate access programme at the end of September.

The drug can slow the progression of Emphysema, and at the time of the decision, 21 people nationwide had access to the drug through a compassionate access programme run independently of the HSE.

“A man from Glencar that I know very well has been using the drug for the past seven years, and his quality of life has improved dramatically,” Councillor Cahill said while moving an emergency motion at a recent South and West Kerry Municipal District meeting, in which he called on Minister Harris and the HSE to make the drug available.

“Prior to using the drug, the man had no quality of life, and without it, his health will deteriorate immediately.

“I’m also aware of the case of a lady from Kilgarvan who is on the waiting list for this drug for the past two years.”

The HSE said it undertook an intensive and detailed statutory review process over 18 months ahead of deciding not to fund the drug. A spokesperson said the HSE Drugs Group acknowledges that the drug can bring about a reduction in the rate of lung density loss, however other findings led them to conclude that Respreeza “did not result in a significant improvement in quality of life”.

“The HSE is very much aware that this decision is upsetting to patients who are affected by this condition”, the spokesperson added. “However it is of the utmost importance to recognise that the HSE Drugs Group who reviewed the effectiveness of the drug did not consider the evidence…to be sufficiently strong in the context of the proposed cost and budget impact.”

Provision of the drug would cost some €80,000 per patient per year.