The HSE have confirmed they will make a revolutionary new cancer drug available free to patients with melanoma.
The new drug Pembrolizumab which has proved to be successful after a number of trials will be included in the State drugs scheme for the treatment of melanoma the Minister for Health Simon Harris has revealed.
The welcome inclusion comes after the drug proved to be cost effective and was approved by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. The HSE’s recent decision was brought to a quick resolution after a number of the country’s leading Oncologists warned that vulnerable patients would die as a result of the Government’s indecisiveness just last week.
The decision was reportedly fast tracked after Mr Harris recently reviewed a report of the drugs cost and effectiveness. Pembrolizumab, which reportedly costs almost €70,000 per patient per year, will be made available to about 130 patients, according to its manufacturer, MSD.