Sir, – I have been housebound with myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) for nearly 18 years. The hope of drugs being made available that would help my condition has kept me going. Thus the news in Fiona Gartland’s report that the threshold for a drug to be seen as value for money has been slashed from €45,000 to €20,000 per quality-adjusted life year is distressing (Home News, May 8th).
Chief medical officer at the Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan claims no one would want to see services cut to fund drugs. Where is the evidence for this? It may be the case that for people involved in the administration of a health system, it’s easier to cut the drugs budget than cut jobs – that does not mean that is the approach all the patients would employ. – Yours, etc,