Mary Henry (Independent)

It should be reported to the society in the case of a pharmacist. The requirement under the law as amended will be that those who are aware of such financial arrangements will have a duty to report them. It is important that this will not be simply voluntary; one will have a duty to do so in order that it can be investigated.

Doctors and pharmacists must work more closely together and the issue of MRSA and over-prescription is simply one such area. It will take considerable time to change the culture, habit and practice of patients in the first instance, as well as doctors and others. The public awareness campaign that began recently will include training, seminars and information for general practitioners and patients. It will take some time for it to sink in that looking for antibiotics for virtually all ailments is not a good thing. In fact it is both a bad and dangerous practice.

I held discussions last week in Scandinavia and it has never been the experience there that people sought antibiotics in the manner in which people in Ireland do. This is the main reason they have such a terrific record and they do not understand how Ireland has arrived at the point it has reached. Some people to whom I spoke suggested that it will probably take a long time to change practices in Ireland. This issue pertains to education and awareness. While calling it a module might sound over-prescriptive, this issue should be included in the training and education of doctors, particularly those who will work in general practice. Doctors have a major role in helping to inform patients, as do pharmacists.