Patients ‘not fully informed about medicines’

PATIENTS taking prescribed medicine are not always fully briefed on its effects because of inadequate consultation time with doctors.

A survey commissioned by the Irish Patients Association (IPA) found 61% of doctors believe the average length of a consultation is not enough time to fully explain the details about the medicines.

In addition, two-thirds of doctors were concerned in-pack leaflets which accompany prescription medicines are the only piece of written information available to patients.