Supporting early access to innovative oncology medicines in Ireland
HPP supported the development of recommendations for implementing an early access pilot programme for cancer medicines in Ireland
Context
Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Ireland, yet there are considerable inequities in access to innovative treatments.
Half of the population in Ireland have private health insurance and can access innovative cancer medicines soon after they become available throughout Europe. However, people reliant on the public health system wait up to 971 days for the same medicines – a timeline people with cancer cannot afford.
There are opportunities for the Irish government to address these disparities by implementing an early access pilot programme for innovative oncology medicines. Early access programmes aim to provide faster access to innovative care, transforming outcomes for people living with cancer.
Project resources
What we’ve achieved
HPP supported AstraZeneca in developing recommendations for policy and decision-makers to consider when implementing an early access pilot programme in Ireland. Showcasing examples of early access schemes already in place in France and Portugal, the report presents essential components of an early access pilot programme, including: parties responsible for assessing applications; clinical eligibility criteria; funding; data collection requirements; conversion to regular reimbursement; estimated budget impact; and patient benefit. This report was developed following a multi-stakeholder workshop and roundtable.
Project funding
This report was commissioned by AstraZeneca Ireland and drafted with support from The Health Policy Partnership. The workshop that informed the development of this work was facilitated by Hanover Communications. The report has been reviewed by AstraZeneca to ensure compliance with relevant Irish requirements.