HSE seeks €120m for new drugs

The government will decide whether to fund innovative medicines to treat cancer, heart failure and depression in the coming weeks.

With a cumulative price tag of about €120 million over five years, the HSE has sought additional funding from government for nine drugs it wants to provide to patients.

Decisions on whether to fund new medicines are hugely emotive, as evidenced by the campaign to fund cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi.

Some ministers have ...