Louth TD calls for progress in advanced cancer services

Louth Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan has called for progress in advanced cancer services and the need for a funded national plan for radioligand therapy in the Oireachtas.

She said: “When somebody has advanced cancer, being told that another treatment exists brings real hope. Discovering they cannot access it in Ireland brings an entirely different feeling of desperation.

“That is why I am raising the urgent need for a funded national plan for radioligand therapy, with the infrastructure, staff and access to medicines needed to deliver it.

“I acknowledge the progress being made in our cancer services and the commitment to delivering them, but we have to be honest about where the system is falling short.

“The radioligand therapy advisory group of the national cancer control programme, NCCP, recommended the development of a national plan, yet I understand that this group has not met since March 2025.

“The responses to my parliamentary questions indicate that this work has not been prioritised by the Department of Health or the office of the chief clinical officer of HIQA during 2025 and 2026.”

“Separately, I was recently informed that the HSE senior leadership team has reached a final decision not to reimburse Pluvicto, a radioligand treatment for certain patients with advanced prostate cancer.

“I understand that Novartis spent four years seeking reimbursement and, while disappointed, has accepted the decision. It is probable that our patients in Ireland will never gain access to this treatment.

“Four years is an enormous length of time for patients looking for an advanced treatment, only not to get it now.

“The new national cancer strategy has to address this properly and be ambitious. Radioligand therapy needs to be an explicit commitment, backed by capital investment, recurring funding, workforce targets and delivery dates.

“Planning services and accessing medicines have to proceed alongside each other. We cannot keep waiting until a treatment arrives before asking whether we have the capacity to deliver it.

“For patients in Louth and throughout the country, access must depend on a clinical need and be supported by clear referral pathways.”

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Deputy Alan Dillon claimed he’d take the matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

He said: “The purpose of the group is to consider, on the basis of the need identified, plans for the future development of radioligand therapy services, including recommended norms in relation to service provision, planning and staffing considerations for facilities.

“In its initial stages, membership of this group is expected to last for a period of three years, within which the group will meet to consider approaches that may be taken for the furtherance of planning necessary to best advance this treatment.

“There are numerous interdependencies to be considered. The HSE has advised that challenges persist in the delivery of radioligand therapy in Ireland, particularly in terms of infrastructure and capacity.

“As with any complex area of service delivery, a measured and well-considered approach to planning is paramount. It is towards the progression of this objective that the NCCP's radioligand therapy advisory group is currently engaged, and work remains ongoing in this regard.

“I accept and understand the concerns the Deputy raised in her opening statement regarding the pace and prioritisation, and I will certainly ensure that those concerns are conveyed to the Minister and that the Department continues to work on making progress on the Government's commitments.

“The Government has demonstrated its appetite to deliver innovative cancer treatments through significant investments in recent years in regard to medicines. Supporting the development of radioligand therapy is also an important priority.

Deputy Erin McGreehan said: “We need our next national cancer strategy to be very ambitious and keep pace with science, and we need to ensure it is absolutely fully funded, not only on the infrastructural, clinical and diagnostic sides but also on the treatment side.”

Deputy Alan Dillon said: “Everyone in this House shares the same objective, which is that we want Irish patients to receive timely access to innovative cancer treatments and get the best possible outcomes.

“That is really the point the Deputy is raising here today. It is clear that the delivery of these services involves significant considerations.

“ I hope that this work will advance in the next national cancer programme and that we will have specialist staff, capacity, long-term service planning and, indeed, the infrastructure to deliver the services.

“I will ensure that the Deputy’s concerns, which are understandable and deserve to be heard, are brought back to the Minister for Health for further consideration.”