Results 7,421-7,440 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: My amendment refers to material change, some of which would be so insignificant in terms of the broad thrust of what is required for modifications, etc. The Minister of State's power of persuasion knows no bounds.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: In terms of oversight in the Bill, the Taoiseach said in New York, or through his spokesperson, that he was now hands-on in the Department of Health. Is there a reference to the Taoiseach's obligations in the Schedule?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I may consider an amendment on Report Stage, although this may not be technically possible. I refer to section 14(1)(f) of the Pharmacy Act 2007, under which a bankrupt will be removed from the register of pharmacists. Is this absolutely necessary? While one may be bankrupt, it is not a corollary that one is incapable of dispensing medicines or seeking employment with another pharmacist....

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I differ with the Minister of State in his interpretation. Section 19 relates to the action to be taken by the HSE in circumstances where it makes decisions in respect of the provisions contained in section 18 which relates to the maintenance of the reimbursement list. That list will be updated from time to time and products will be added to, retained on or deleted from it. There are...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I accept that there will be a list. However, prescribers and pharmacists should be informed when a product is being taken off or added to it. Will GPs and pharmacists be required to go online each morning or afternoon to see what has been added to or deleted from the list? The list of various products to which we are referring is huge. In order to ensure there will be a full flow of...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: Yes.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I have no wish to be divisive in this matter and thank the Minister of State for his commitment to the effect that he will consider it prior to Report Stage. However, section 19(2) states: Where the Executive has made a relevant decision based on any expert opinions or recommendations, it shall attach copies of all such opinions and recommendations to the notice concerned under subsection...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I move amendment No. 10: In page 25, subsection (2), line 32, after "decision" to insert "and to prescribers and pharmacists".

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I move amendment No. 9: In page 25, subsection (1), line 27, after "decision" to insert "and to prescribers and pharmacists".If the Minister of State cannot accept this amendment now, he should go away, take some advice and consider it for Report Stage. I do not mean that in a disparaging way. There is no reference to prescribers and pharmacists in this section. For example, if something...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I am not concerned so much about its lawfulness or otherwise. However, in the event that the pharmacist has a concern about a prescription, about the veracity of the signature or the “do not substitute” requirement, is the Minister of State suggesting section 15 will provide enough comfort for pharmacists?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The Minister of State might take note of it. I have raised the issue and may consider it again before Report Stage.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: My point is that illegible writing by a doctor should not necessarily be a problem because he or she could print his or her name rather than use a signature. How is a pharmacist meant to know in such cases? If a pharmacist has a suspicion, is there some method he or she could use to contact the prescriber to find out whether the request is correct, or does he or she have to send the patient...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: There is a straightforward issue on payment. Pharmacists may have concerns where they do not dispense the medicine included in the prescription and overrule owing to sound professional judgment. What will be the position on payment under the reimbursement scheme?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: Pharmacists have a concern which I have expressed and the Minister of State has dealt with, although perhaps not to my satisfaction. In the dispensing of medicines a pharmacist may have concerns when a person with a “do not substitute” request arrives at the pharmacy. They may not have to do with the authenticity of the “do not substitute” request but with the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: We are concentrating on the issue of anti-epileptic drugs, AEDs, but there is a broader issue in regard to benzodiazepines and many other drugs. The country is awash with these drugs and there is over-prescribing. Let us be clear. They are being prescribed legally, but they then find their way into the underworld where people sell them on. This is an issue of huge concern. I have made...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: Many different circumstances could arise. Section 13 clearly provides that in order to preclude substitution, the "prescriber shall write, legibly and by hand, "do not substitute" on the prescription". That could leave it open for the patient or someone else to write "do not substitute" on the prescription. I know that would be of concern. Is there a way of addressing that? Is a sanction...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the Minister of State's explanation as to why he cannot or will not accept our views. What he said, however, will not assuage people's concerns. Equally, he did not really address the fundamental issue. I read the relevant passage of the Moran report and it indicates that anti-epileptic drugs, AEDs, cannot be classed as interchangeable in the absence of a critical analysis being...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I am somewhat confused about the point the Chairman is trying to make.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: That is okay.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2013)

Billy Kelleher: We must take a stand on this issue. I oppose section 5 in view of the fact that none of my amendments were accepted. I cannot accept a section that does not address the concerns that I and many Deputies on this committee, as well as the general public, have. Eminent clinicians are also exceptionally concerned about the issue of bioavailability of particular epilepsy drugs. In the interest...