Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will detail the guidelines issued to doctors and hospitals with respect to the reporting of adverse side effects of drugs to patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37684/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The programme is continually evolving to encourage increased participation by healthcare professionals and patients. There are a range of methods in place to facilitate reporting, including paper based and downloadable post-paid report forms as well as online/telephone reporting.

Detailed information and guidance on adverse reaction reporting, together with access to report forms, can be accessed by means of a dedicated link on the IMB's homepage. The IMB also provides regular updates on adverse reaction reporting to healthcare professionals in its Drug Safety Newsletter which is distributed to all registered doctors, dentists and pharmacists. Reminders about reporting issue regularly in the Newsletter and through direct contact with the relevant professional bodies such as the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. Staff from the IMB also provide guidance and advice on adverse reaction reporting as part of their input to undergraduate and postgraduate training programmes for healthcare professionals.