Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Feargal Quinn on the issue of using paperless systems to do business. The best example I can give in this regard is from Denmark where people have a patient medication card which is like a Visa card. Paper prescriptions are not handed out. Rather, prescriptions are placed in an electronic file. Patients can take their cards to the pharmacist who can read the prescription. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, as I understand it, 27% of prescriptions from hospitals cannot be understood or are misread because of the way they are written. Having prescriptions on computer and allowing pharmacists to access the electronic file would be a far more efficient system. In Denmark the saving made was ¤1.8 billion in the management of the health care system. This measure must be fast-tracked in our health system, in which regard I fully support Senator Feargal Quinn.

The Irish Cancer Society recently published a study indicating that in disadvantaged areas and areas of high unemployment women were 49% more at risk of developing head or neck cancer, while men were 32% more likely to develop lung cancer. The study highlighted the need for a structured education programme on health care in these areas. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Health to come to the House to discuss how we can work with the Irish Cancer Society in dealing with this issue. The Department of Health and the HSE must be proactive in dealing with it. It is very much an education issue and a question of highlighting the risks people are taking with their lifestyles. It is worth repeating that the risk for women in these areas of developing certain cancers is 49% higher, while for men, it is 32% higher, a huge difference. This is an issue that must be tackled immediately.