NEW IPHA DATA SHOWS IRISH PATIENTS DENIED ACCESS TO VITAL CANCER MEDICINES

• Seven new cancer medicines available in 12 EU countries – but not yet in Ireland
• Persistent delays approving medicines at odds with Government’s cancer outcomes targets
• Industry keen to work with Government to speed patients’ access to medicines

Irish patients are among the last in western Europe to have access to vital cancer medicines, 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 published today [Thursday] by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), the representative body for the international research-based pharmaceutical industry in Ireland.

In the second quarterly IPHA bulletin which systematically monitors and reports on the availability in other EU countries of new medicines that are awaiting approval in Ireland, the data shows that seven cancer medicines are available, on average, in 12 western European countries. However, they still await a decision for approval in the Irish system.

Four of these medicines are for lung cancer. According to the National Cancer Registry, lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death between 2012 and 2014, accounting for 19% of cancer deaths in women and 23% of cancer deaths in men. Each year, 2,500 Irish people are diagnosed with lung cancer, according to the Irish Cancer Society. Lung cancer is among the top five most commonly  diagnosed cancers in Ireland.

The latest figures for medicines awaiting approval in Ireland, against the EU 14, show:

Ten IPHA 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 are for cancer (seven), cardiovascular disease (two) and musculoskeletal treatment (one); and,
• They have been in the approvals process for more than two years, on average, which is an unacceptably long time.

We note that, since the start of the year, 11 innovative medicines have been approved for reimbursement and they are now available to patients.

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.

“In this, our second bulletin benchmarking medicines’ availability in Ireland against our peer EU countries, the figures show that we have made no progress since the last quarter. 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. The Government’s National Cancer Strategy aims to place Ireland in the top quartile of European countries for cancer survival in the next decade. The persistent logjam in approving cancer medicines will make it hard for Ireland to hit that target, especially when we know that about 73% of survival gains for cancer are attributable to new treatments. Just as the development of statins revolutionised the treatment of cardiovascular disease, improved cancer outcomes in Ireland depend on the use of innovative medicines.

“Our industry is making good on a pledge to limit the prices of our medicines to an average of the prices in 14 EU countries. Since July 2016, there have been three rounds of price cuts for thousands of medicines. By the end of 2020 when our agreement with the Government expires, €785 million in overall savings are expected to have been delivered. But, so far, these savings are not being fully reinvested back into new medicines.

“We believe Ireland can – and should – do better. We are keen to engage with Government and the political system to solve the problem for patients. We are working on proposals which we will share with Government that could improve patients’ access to innovative medicines. The solution can only happen through partnership and dialogue between industry and Government. It is important that both sides commit to meaningful engagement that places patients at the centre – and improves Ireland’s standing on access to innovative medicines relative to our European peers,” said Mr O’Connor.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

The research-based pharmaceutical industry, represented by IPHA, has a four-year agreement in place with the Government. The agreement aims to provide a reliable framework in which public expenditure on medicines is sustainable, and new innovative medicines are made available to patients in a timely way. *As part of the deal, prices for innovative medicines in Ireland are calculated at the average of the price in 14 EU countries – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. This bulletin tracks the availability of innovative medicines in these 14 EU countries. We use the data to show that the same therapies should be available to clinicians to prescribe for patients in Ireland.

About IPHA

IPHA is the representative organisation of the research-based pharmaceutical industry in Ireland. We represent 48 international companies that discover and develop new medicines for treating or curing many medical conditions, improving both the quality of life and the life expectancy of patients. Our industry has had pricing and supply agreements with the State for decades. The most recent version, in place from August 2016 to July 2020, will deliver estimated savings of €785 million. These savings were aimed at providing headroom for the HSE to fund new medicines, assisting, though not removing, the need for increased Exchequer funding. While part of the agreement covers the pricing of medicines (including annual downwards price realignments, price reductions on off-patent products and cash rebates), it also outlines a pathway for the reimbursement of new medicines.