Shortage of key medicines poses risk to patients’ health

A shortage of key medicines is posing a risk to the health of some patients, according to pharmacists attending the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) annual conference in Galway over the weekend.

Newly elected IPU president Rory O’Donnell has called on the Department of Health to ensure that an adequate supply of vital medicines is constantly available to minimised the threat to the safety of patients.

Mr O’Donnell said: “This has been happening for years. The latest example is the shortage of Eltroxin, a drug used to treat thyroid problems, a common disorder. It is not acceptable in this day and age that the health of some patients is compromised due to a shortage of medicines.”

The IPU conference also highlighted the fact that one in three Irish people suffer from chronic pain, namely pain with lasts longer than three months.

Cork-based pharmacist and IPU executive committee member Catriona O’Riordan said: “Chronic pain does not command significant attention, but it is a debilitating condition, which can seriously affect the quality of life of a sufferer. Pharmacists have to be sensitive to the risk that a patient may become dependent or even addicted to pain relief medication.”

Pharmacists also want more medicines to be reclassified, making them available from pharmacies without requiring a GP prescription.

Mr O’Donnell added: “Every minister for health that we have met with over the years has always agreed that there is scope for pharmacies to play a much broader role, but for this to happen, it will require a longer vision and better planning.”

An IPU survey has found that 90% of adults also want pharmacists to be given an expanded role in areas such as screening blood pressure testing and cholesterol testing, and power to prescribe for minor ailments.