The Irish Clinical Oncology Group t/a Cancer Trials Ireland (Cancer Trials Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Clinical Oncology Group t/a Cancer Trials Ireland

Date published 20 Jan, 2017

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Sep, 2016 to 31 Dec, 2016

Specific Details Pre Budget Submission 2017 - In our pre-Budget 2017 submission we called for a fund of €1.4 million to bolster the existing network of 14 cancer trials research units which are located in hospitals around the country, with €100,000 going to the unit in individually named hospitals.

Intended results This fund would enable more patients to have free access to promising cancer drugs, many of which are not yet provided by the HSE. There are currently numerous cancer trials open at around Ireland involving many patients. As well as benefiting patients, cancer trials also benefit the HSE. The drugs and tests patients receive during trials are usually paid for by the sponsoring pharmaceutical company or an international research group. This saves the HSE millions of euro in the cost of drugs. We would really appreciate if you could use your influence at national level to highlight the importance of expanding the Exchequer’s investment in cancer trials in Budget 2017 so that more patients can avail of life enhancing cancer drugs and we can find the answers to cancer. Because one in three Irish people will be diagnosed with cancer , the work of researchers in research units around the country in finding answers to cancer through trials is critically important for a great many people.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Eibhlin Mulroe

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All TDs Pre Budget Submission 2017

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

For every €1 the Exchequer invests in cancer trials it will save more than €2 in cancer treatment costs. Recommended investments the Exchequer should make in developing Ireland’s cancer trials infrastructure in Budget 2017. 1. Provide the HSE with ring-fenced funding for clinical research resource in the 14 cancer trials research units – staff and capital. Recommended total funding: €1.4 million (€700,000 once off and €700,000 recurring). 2. Establish a fund to support HSE employed Oncologists (through locum and other resources) to source, initiate, lead and complete cancer trials in Ireland. Recommended funding: €1 million recurring. 3. Provide funding for the development of a highly secure cloud based integrated trial data management system to enable a dashboard based compliance, variance and performance reporting system: Recommended funding: €800,000 - €850,000 to be invested over three years. 4. Provide direction to the HSE to ensure that uniform pharmacy fees are applied acro

Designated public officials lobbied

There were no DPOs directly lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area.