AQW 47484/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 19/06/2015
Answered On Date: 02/07/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the exceptionality clause within the Individual Fund Request (IFR) process; and the extent to which this clause inhibits the number of requests forwarded for assessment.

Answer:

My Department has recently evaluated the Individual Funding Request process, which is designed to provide access to novel, off-label or non-NICE approved specialist drugs, and has publicly consulted on the recommendations from the published report. A copy of the evaluation is available at the following address:

http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/ifr-report170215.

The consultation closed on 08 May 2015. The responses are currently being analysed.