Cabinet Committees
Dail Éireann — 2024-01-30
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Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP), Dún Laoghaire

I met a young mother this week who has a very serious precancerous condition. For six years, she obtained a cream called Imiquimod with her medical card. For no reason for which she can get an explanation, she is no longer able to get it. It has been taken off the primary care reimbursement scheme with no explanation. The only way she can get it now, apparently, is by paying €400 a month to import it from the United States via Holles Street hospital. I understand the product is licensed here. I do not understand how this can be happening. This woman believes a significant number of people will be impacted by the situation. It is very likely she is not the only one. This is outrageous. Her doctors tell her that if she does not get this treatment, it could seriously worsen her situation and she may be forced into a serious operation as a result. Will the Taoiseach talk to the HSE, the Minister for Health or whomever else to address this issue? The treatment is for a precancerous condition that must not be allowed to get worse. The woman has to get the cream. She used to get it with her medical card but now she cannot get it unless she pays €400 a month, which she does not have. I ask the Taoiseach to address her situation as a matter of urgency.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2024-01-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:36+00:00
Sitting date: 2024-01-30