AQW 29984/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 04/07/2025
Answered On Date: 18/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the reason for the discrepancy in cost for Givinostat between the Belfast Trust and figures provided by Oxford University Hospitals.

Answer:

At present Givinostat is not commissioned within Northern Ireland, as its introduction relies upon the NICE appraisal process, where a decision is expected to be announced in September 2025.

The costs provided by Oxford University Hospital relate to the availability of Givinostat within the Early Access Programme (EAP) arrangements, which are a direct relationship between the Trust and the Pharmaceutical company pending regulatory deliberations, and therefore outside normal NHS commissioning arrangements. Belfast Trust staff have advised that costs indicated represent the costs for full implementation if and when NICE approval comes through and have been used as a guide in responding to any costs queries. As the costs of the two organisations are not directly comparable the explanation of any apparent discrepancy is not considered as an appropriate way forward.

In the event that the NICE appraisal recommends Givinostat, my officials will engage with Belfast Trust to seek to introduce the medicine for NI patients, in a timely and cost-effective manner paying regard to existing staffing and infrastructure needs of the Belfast Trust Paediatric Neurology Service.