New hope for thousands of patients as €20m found for breakthrough medicines

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Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. Photo: PA

Eilish O'Regan

Thousands of patients left devastated after being told there would no HSE budget for new medicines next year have been thrown a lifeline of a new €20m fund for potentially breakthrough drugs.

The medicines could be life-changing or life-saving for patients with a range of serious illnesses, including cancer and cardiovascular conditions, for whom there may be no other treatment options left.