Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Landy, I am not a member of the committee and I thank the Chairman for giving me an opportunity to speak at the committee today. I thank the committee for inviting both groups, in particular the fibromyalgia group with which I have been involved directly in my area in Carlow for almost a year.

Approximately a year ago, I first became involved with the group. Prior to that, I would have been, like Deputy Dowds, very ignorant of what fibromyalgia was. I was shocked and horrified, to be quite honest, to discover the number of people who are sufferers of fibromyalgia in the small area of Carlow. There could be up to 100 persons of whom I became aware in that time. The consequences of their issues, which have been well outlined by Mr. Maher and, more recently, Senator Landy, are striking.

I have a couple of points to make. There is the cost of drugs. As Deputy Ó Caoláin mentioned, there is the cost of all involved and the diagnosis. There is a direct link between the two. When one goes for a diagnosis and one is unaware of what is the problem, straightaway the patient is put on some kind of medication that may not be necessary, and that involves a substantial cost to the State. That is continually progressed all along without getting a definite diagnosis of what is the position. Apparently, medication is not required in most cases. I would concur with previous speakers, that there must be a process in which early intervention is essential, and in getting appropriate diagnosis to eliminate the medication that is not required.

Have the groups any idea of the number of sufferers in the country? The point has been made that the gender breakdown is 87% women, 13% men. Have they any idea of the overall figure?

I thank the committee for inviting the two groups, in particular,the fibromyalgia group. This is an important step for them along the way. They definitely deserve official support and recognition which they have not received to date. They make a strong case. I commend them on their presentations.