30% of patients use prescriptions incorrectly

Up to 30% of Irish patients are not taking enough of their prescriptions to cure them or relieve their symptoms.

That is according to a new report by the IPPOSI, which said that number rises to 50% for serious and chronic diseases like breast cancer or osteoporosis.

Doctors said it is often difficult to convince patients of the need to take the correct dose - and even harder with younger patients.

"Teenagers are immortal they don't believe in death…they don't take it or they think the group will not accept them," said Dr Carlos Blanco of Our Lady's Children's Hospital.

"It’s a problem, they don't understand that they can get worse, and they do get worse."