Question from Deputy David Cullinane - PQ 15323-26

To ask the Minister for Health the reason the non-clinical qualifier 'from the outset' is applied to reimbursement applications for continuous glucose monitoring systems; if she will remove this requirement as it is not indicated in the HIQA HTA; if she will extend reimbursement for CGM systems to all patients with diabetes who require such devices; if she recognises the direct health cost benefits and wider economic and social benefits of CGM systems in terms of employment and health system avoidance; and if not, the basis on which she refutes this and the analysis which has been conducted which says that the opportunity cost and downstream cost to the health service of not extending access to less than cost of extending reimbursement; the reason CGM reimbursement is not available on the basis of clinical need on foot of a consultant prescription, in the absence of any research which states that this should not be the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.