New report calls for a co-funded early access pilot programme in Ireland to close gaps in access to innovative oncology medicines

The Health Policy Partnership supported AstraZeneca in developing a report which presents recommendations for policy and decision-makers to advocate for a co-funded early access pilot programme. This is to ensure that people with cancer who don’t have access to private healthcare can benefit from the same innovative treatments as those who do.

The report, informed by a multi-stakeholder workshop, highlights the urgent need to address widening inequities in access to cancer treatments. Currently, people in Ireland who rely on the public health system face delays of up to 971 days to access new cancer medicines. On the other hand, people who have private health insurance (almost 50% of the population) can access innovative cancer medicines soon after they become available throughout Europe.

Implementing an early access pilot programme would enable people who rely on the public system to access potentially life-saving cancer treatments years earlier, while aligning Ireland with best practices across Europe.

Read the report
 
For more information, visit the project page.