There was good news for patients who suffer with a long term illness this week as the Government along with the HSE have confirmed that nine new drugs will be made available this November.
The revolutionary new drugs which will actively help treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, Crohn’s disease, depression, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, will reportedly cost the state in the region of €117m to fund.
Although it was hoped the new life saving drugs would be made available sooner, it is understood that the Department of Health and the HSE decided to delay supplying the drugs in order for doctors and consultants to review protocols which included their effectiveness and possible side effects before prescribing them to their patients.
Announcing the introduction of the revolutionary new drugs the Health Minister Simon Harris confirmed all drugs will be available from November 1st
Minster Harris also addressed the recent criticism surrounding the delaying of the drugs introduction given that funding was made available back in July saying: “All the necessary steps had to be taken to insure prescription pathways and technical arrangements were fully established.”