Brassil calls on HSE to fund life changing emphysema drug

FIANNA Fáil TD John Brassil has called on Minister for Health Simon Harris to fund for Respreeza, which slows the progression of emphysema caused by Alpha 1, after the drug’s manufacturer, CSL Behring, said it would cease providing under its Compassionate Access Programme from the end of the month. Minister Brassil said this week that 21 people risk losing access to Respreeza as a result.

“This will have a devastating impact on the 21 people involved, including a man from my own constituency, who are currently in the CAP and who risk seeing the benefits they have gained from being on the medication lost”, explained Deputy Brassil.

“While agreement between the Department and the manufacturer has so far proven difficult to achieve, the Department of Health should, in the interim, commit to funding the drug for the 21 patients currently on the Compassionate Access Programme,” said Deputy Brassil.

“It is inconceivable that they would lose access to a drug that had dramatically improved their quality of life because the Department and the manufacturer have failed to find agreement,” he said.

Deputy John Brassil (FF)