Bird flu fears amid chief pharmacist vacancy

The lack of a top Government pharmacist is leaving the country vulnerable in the event of a bird flu outbreak, it was claimed today.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland said the position of Chief Pharmacist at the Department of Health had been vacant for the last six months.

“(It) has left a vacuum at the heart of that Department when it comes to advising the Government on key strategic decisions to do with medicines,” said president Ronan Quirke.

He said this could have implications if there was an outbreak of bird flu.

“In the event of a pandemic, how medicines are distributed in the state would become a key and crucial and defining issue. There isn’t a pharmacist at the heart of Government to co-ordinate that strategy.”

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed at least 62 people in Asia, with most becoming infected by close contact with sick birds or their droppings. However, there have been no reports of bird flu in Ireland.

The Chief Pharmacist, Tom McGuinn, retired from the Department of Health earlier this year after more than 20 years’ service and is currently being employed on a consultancy basis.

Mr Quirke told RTÉ radio that the Government had not advertised the position of Chief Pharmacist.

The Department of Health has said that preparations have been made for a bird flu outbreak and there is no need for the public to be alarmed.