Three times as many glands were taken without consent during post-mortem examinations on cadavers at Irish hospitals than previously thought, it emerged today.
International pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk said today 7,500 pituitary glands were supplied by 32 Irish hospitals for the manufacture off human growth hormone.
The company had previously put the figure at 2,500.
Dr Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president of Novo-Nordisk, said a review of figures revealed the huge supply from 1976 to 1986.
"When asked we gave the information - But I have been informed by my learned colleagues that it is more like 7,500."
The chief science officer said in return hospitals received around 33,000 vials of pure growth hormone, made from around 13,000 glands, to treat dwarfism and growth problems in children.
Dr Krogsgaard Thomsen said a nominal fee of just over €2 was paid for the vials manufactured by the Danish pharmaceutical firm.
"The issue in those days was not the price it was only the supply as there wasn't an adequate amount available for everyone for treatment," he said.
Seventeen hospitals from across the country have confirmed they supplied two different pharmaceutical companies with pituitary glands.
The majority of the hospitals have admitted sending the glands to Pharmacia Ireland, which was then known as KaviVitrum.
Though Novo Nordisk said it was supplied by 32 Irish hospitals over a 10 year period.
Dr Krogsgaard Thomsen said arrangements were made with hospitals on an individual basis in the years before scientists were capable of producing artificial growth hormone.
He added the hospitals "would have been told to comply with local ethical, legal or other requirements necessary."
"The situation with informed consent was probably not as adhered to as clearly in those days," Dr Krogsgaard Thomsen said.
"I don't think for the hospitals there was any malpractice or misconduct but they probably didn't have any guidelines in those days."
Dr James Reilly, President of the Irish Medical Organisation, refuted claims the organs were being supplied on a purely financial basis.
"The point there is that there would be an implication that they were being exported, and exported for profit, and that clearly was not the case," Dr Reilly said.
"We know that from the fees which were paid to hospitals. It was a tiny amount of money and it was purely to cover the cost."
Dr Reilly called for a public debate to get to the bottom of the scandal.
"I think everybody would prefer if all the facts were put in front of us and have a full debate," said Dr Reilly.
Additional reporting by PA