Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with much of what has been said and ask the Chair for some latitude. How can section 13 be of help where a doctor can include on the prescription that the drug prescribed cannot be changed? Is that section a source of comfort for us, in conjunction with section 5?

No one has mentioned those with chronic pain. They receive their drugs and the next step is an epidural, followed by a spinal drug implant - I am not sure what it is called. However, I am concerned that the people I have met - there are thousands around the country - may go from phase 1 to having an epidural and a spinal drug implant. Will they be able to get it? I am talking about cheap drugs. Will section 13 be of comfort in order that people will be able to get the epilepsy drugs they need and that the pharmacy or the Irish Medicines Board will not be able to change them? The Irish Medicines Board states medicines will only be substituted where it is safe to do so. Will it be of help if the prescribing doctor includes on the prescription that the drug prescribed cannot be changed?