VULNERABLE PATIENTS are being left without important medicines because of inconsistent supplies to Irish pharmacies, the national conference of the Irish Pharmacy Union has heard
More than 40 medicines were out of circulation in Ireland, on average, over the last number of weeks, according to the union, which held its national conference in Kilkenny over the weekend.
“It is not good enough that stocks of medicine run out and vulnerable patients have to wait to get their medication,” Caitríona O’Riordan, a pharmacist from Cork, said at the conference.
“The current system is fragile and not consistent. It can leave a cancer patient waiting up to two weeks for oral chemotherapy medication.”
The union has called on the Irish Medicines Board (IMB), the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health to play a more prominent role in ensuring the availability of prescription medicine to patients.
Pharmacists reported yesterday that an important anti-asthmatic medicine for children as well as certain antihypertensives and some antibiotics and antipsychotics were among the medicines unavailable in Ireland at present.
Earlier in the weekend, the conference heard 84 per cent of people surveyed agreed with availability of the “morning after” pill without a doctor’s prescription.
The pill became available over the counter from pharmacies throughout the country following a decision last February by the IMB. Since then, 85 per cent of pharmacies have received requests for the pill, averaging almost 2½ requests per week.
Welcoming the findings of the survey, Ann-Marie Horan from Forfield Pharmacy in Dublin said: “This medication will not be dispensed without a thorough consultation with the pharmacist in relation to the suitability of the patient for the medicine. This clearly is a responsible approach to an important aspect of sexual health for women.”
The union also called for a greater role for pharmacists in delivering healthcare to patients.
In a five-point plan directed at the Minister for Health, the union has asked that its members be allowed to provide a number of additional services, to free doctors to treat more serious illnesses.
The proposals include administering vaccinations, reviewing patients medicine use and delivering health promotion services.