Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy asked if Ireland was more affected than other countries. This is something we have been looking at. There are some commercial entities that have been suggesting it, linking it to them potentially getting paid more money for their products. There is no evidence to suggest that Ireland is more adversely affected by the current global medicine shortage than anywhere else. The HPRA has said we are experiencing fewer shortages than many other European countries, despite the fact that demand for some medicines has been two or three times greater.

The Deputy's question about a protocol makes a lot of sense. Pharmacists in Ireland already have more flexibility than UK pharmacists in certain areas around generic substitution but there is a lot of merit to bringing in a medicine shortages protocol as a standing protocol within the pharmacies. Considerable work is required to do it in terms of clinical governance and relationships with GPs. Legislative changes may be required as well. I am looking at all of that with the Department at the moment.

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