Value of early access to new medicines questioned by NCPE

The head of Ireland's National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) has voiced opposition to providing early access to new medicines before they undergo full assessment. Speaking to RTÉ News, the committee head, who recommends drug approvals to the Health Service Executive (HSE), stated that many drugs offered through early access programs "don't work very well."

He argued that prioritizing early access without prior evaluation undermines the assessment process. The NCPE's role is to assess the cost-effectiveness and clinical value of new drugs before they are made available to patients through the HSE. This ensures that public funds are spent on treatments that offer genuine benefits.

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I am opposed to early access for medicines if that means they are not assessed first.

The committee's stance highlights a tension between rapid patient access to potentially life-saving treatments and the need for rigorous evaluation to ensure efficacy and value for money within the public healthcare system.

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many don't work very well.