Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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489. To ask the Minister for Defence his views on Lariam being prescribed for members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42171/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Malaria is a serious disease that kills approximately 1 million people per year in sub-Saharan Africa alone. It is a serious threat to any military force operating in the area. The anti-malaria regime in place in the Defence Forces – including the use of Lariam – is working. In the decade of deployment to sub-Saharan Africa by the Defence Forces, not a single member of the Defence Forces has died from malaria.

The Defence Forces policy is in line with current Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA) guidelines, formerly the Irish Medicines Board. The HPRA is the statutory authority with responsibility for quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Ireland.

It is the policy of the Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness and medical suitability for service overseas including a medical risk assessment for Lariam.

Where malaria has been identified as a risk in a particular mission area, the choice of chemoprophylaxis is dependent on a number of factors including the type of malaria in the destination, resistance to particular drugs, the profile of the traveller (contra-indications, underlying health conditions, purpose of travel) the duration of travel and adherence issues. The choice of medication is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces.

Former Ministers for Defence have had the various assertions surrounding the use of Lariam investigated thoroughly and obtained the advice of leading medical experts, who concur with the prescribing practices followed by the Defence Forces.Anti-malarial medications must remain in the formulary of medications prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas missions, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by this highly dangerous disease.