OBJECTIVES: To describe the utilisation of intermittent and real-time continuous glucose monitoring (collectively referred to as CGM) in the publically funded healthcare system in Ireland, and review the expenditure associated with CGM.

METHODS: Data was extracted from the Health Service Executive-Primary Care Reimbursement Services (HSE-PCRS) national pharmacy claims databases, which include the General Medical Services (GMS), Drugs Payment (DP), and Long-Term Illness (LTI) schemes, from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022. People with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an entitlement to receive approved technologies used for the management of DM under the LTI scheme, at no cost to the patient. Data for CGM usage was combined across the LTI/DP/GMS schemes. Analysis was performed in Microsoft Excel™.

RESULTS: Between January 2021 and December 2022, the number of monthly patients in receipt of CGM increased by more than 100%, from 6,084 to 12,368. Monthly expenditure on CGM increased from €1.57 million in January 2021 to €3.64 million by December 2022. Total expenditure in 2021 was €23.8 million, rising to €35.1 million in 2022. Total expenditure over the 2-year period amounted to €58.9 million. The Dexcom G6-STS-GS-003 Sensor accounted for over half the expenditure in December 2022 (51.3%). It was also used by the greatest number of patients (n=6,164, 49.8%), followed by the Freestyle Libre (n=2,907, 23.5%) and the Dexcom G7 Sensor (n=1,858, 15%). The majority of expenditure is incurred on the LTI scheme (93.7% of expenditure in December 2022).

CONCLUSIONS: The number of patients in receipt of CGM in Ireland between January 2021 and December 2022 has increased by 103%, while monthly expenditure has increased 132%. These CGM technologies generally do not undergo routine health technology assessment prior to reimbursement, and their cost-effectiveness in the Irish setting is unknown. A health technology management process could help contain expenditure on CGM.