Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: The Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines (FASPM) for Ireland (2026-2029) commits to a 180-day review of new medicines/uses of existing medicines. Building on over ten years of previous research evaluating the time to reimbursement (TTR) in Ireland, this research assesses TTR over the last decade and assesses the possibilities for TTR in Ireland given the new FASPM.
METHODS: TTR data were collated in Excel® using National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) and Health Service Executive (HSE) websites, supplemented by over a decade of internally maintained records. N=392 applications reimbursed between June 2016 and June 2026 were identified for analysis. N=22 applications between 2024 and 2026 were identified for analysis on time from NCPE appraisal to HSE-Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) meeting date.
RESULTS: Average TTR (aTTR) for 2016-2026 was 595.03 days; 55.87% were reimbursed after rapid review (RR) (aTTR: 333.81days), 44.13% after full health technology assessment (HTA) (aTTR: 919.68 days). The average time from NCPE appraisal to CPU meeting date for 2024 - 2026 is 70.86 days. The average time before the publication of the FAPSM was 73.55 days. For meetings held from 1 March 2026 onwards, the average time was 44.00 days.
CONCLUSIONS: TTR remains lengthy in Ireland, with applications taking nearly 2 years to be approved for reimbursement. Although minimal data for 2026 is available, there are early trends of reduced time to CPU meeting post-NCPE appraisal. As more applications progress through the reimbursement process, further analysis can be completed to understand the effects of the new FASPM on TTR in Ireland. With the early improvements in post-NCPE appraisal timelines, when to submit to the NCPE within overall United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland HTA submission plans is more important to consider. This may ensure faster overall times to HTA decisions across the jurisdictions.