Health Minister Leo Varadkar has been called on to intervene with the Irish and EU regulatory authorities with a view to getting a controversial acne drug withdrawn from the market.

AN Irish father who believes his son took his own life as a result of taking the drug Roaccutane has welcomed a decision by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to hand over information on adverse reactions to the anti-acne medicine from across the EU.

EU medical authorities have been sharply criticised by the European Ombudsman over their refusal to give access to an Irish citizen who sought information on adverse reactions to the controversial anti-acne drug, Roaccutane.

UP to 40 Irish people are planning to sue a Swiss pharmaceutical firm, claiming the company’s anti-acne drug has caused psychiatric disorders such as depression and suicide.