Fears over supply of vital medicines
According to the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), over 40 medicines have gone out of circulation over the last few weeks.
The IPU insists it is the responsibility of the Irish Medicines Board (IMB), the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health to ensure that prescription medicines are available to patients.
Caitriona O’Riordan, a pharmacist in Bandon, Co Cork, who raised the issue at the IPU’s annual conference in Kilkenny, called for the adoption of a public service obligation to maintain supplies of prescription medicines.
“In most European countries medicines’ distribution is carried out as part of a public service function, whereby pharmacies and patients can rely completely on manufacturers to supply the product and quantities needed. This does not happen in Ireland” she said.
“The current system is fragile and inconsistent. It can leave a cancer patient waiting for up to two weeks for oral chemotherapy medication,” she added.
Pharmacists report that medicines currently unavailable include an important anti-asthmatic medicine for children, certain anti-hypertensives (high-blood pressure), some anti-psychotics and some antibiotics.
Ms O’Riordan said there were numerous reasons why some medicines were unavailable or in short supply, including difficulties in sourcing the raw material or supply chain.
Supply problems also occurred where drug companies were amalgamated or changed ownership.
“The situation is even more difficult for us because, often, we are not made aware of the reason.We are left standing in our pharmacies with nothing to offer the patient who either has to refer back to the GP for an entirely different product or a different strength of the same product,” she said.
Ms O’Riordan said the current situation left people, particularly the elderly, more prone to medication errors. “We are also having to spend more time trying to source a product or find out why there are supply difficulties.
“Obviously, we try and shield the patient in so far as we possibly can. These people are going through difficult times and the last thing you want to do is add to their distress,” she said.
Meanwhile, pharmacists are calling on Health Minister Dr James Reilly to implement his pre-election proposal to increase the vaccination service they can provide to customers.
Rory O’Donnell, a Donegal-based pharmacist and IPU vice-president, urged the minister to make whatever changes necessary to enable pharmacists to provide vaccinations.
