Ireland’s Cancer Treatment Crisis: Public Patients Face Delays

Ireland is facing significant challenges in its cancer treatment system, with reports indicating the country has one of the lowest rates of availability for newly licensed cancer medicines among its Western European counterparts. According to an analysis by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, this situation places public patients at a severe disadvantage compared to those treated in private facilities.

The disparity in access to cancer medications is stark. Denmark, for example, authorized the use of 36 approved medicines within an average of 134 days from 2019 to 2022. In contrast, Ireland permitted the use of only 14 drugs, taking an average of 600 days to do so. This delay has raised alarms among charities and medical experts, who warn that the country’s two-tier health system is failing those reliant on public healthcare.

Public patients often find themselves waiting for up to two years to learn if they will gain access to potentially life-saving treatments. Their eligibility hinges on assessments by the Health Service Executive (HSE), which evaluates the cost-effectiveness of new drugs. Competing financial demands frequently elongate this process, leaving many patients without timely access to critical therapies.

The HSE has pointed to a lack of applications from pharmaceutical companies for public coverage of new drugs as a contributing factor to these delays. According to the pharmaceutical lobby group, a mere 25% of new cancer treatments licensed since 2020 are available within the public system. Despite this, the Department of Health insists it is committed to providing timely access to innovative medicines, having introduced 91 new cancer drugs over the past five years.

Yet, the ongoing blame game between stakeholders is overshadowing the human impact of these delays. Patients are left to rely on standard treatments, missing out on newer therapies that could improve their quality of life or, in some instances, provide a cure. Leading oncologist Dr. Michael McCarthy from Galway University Hospital is among several specialists advocating for a co-funded early-access program. This proposal would allow public patients to access new drugs, with costs shared between the State and pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. McCarthy highlights the importance of new immunotherapy drugs, which can be more effective for certain patient groups than traditional chemotherapy. For a country with extensive resources, the idea of a two-tier system for cancer treatment in 2025 is increasingly seen as unacceptable. Regulatory systems must be robust, but excessive delays cannot be permitted to hinder access to essential treatments.

Addressing these disparities will require a collaborative effort to streamline processes and remove unnecessary obstacles, ensuring that all patients have equitable access to the life-saving treatments they need.