Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1872.To ask the Minister for Health to review the phased dispensing of prescription medication in blister packs for elderly patients living in rural areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35483/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Phased dispensing was introduced in 1996 for patient safety reasons. It involves medication being dispensed across multiple supply occasions.

There are several clinical reasons for a patient to receive a medication through phased dispensing. These are as follows:

1. At the request of a patient's physician.
2. Due to the inherent nature of a medicinal product i.e. product stability and shelf life.
3. Where a patient is commencing new drug therapy with a view to establishing patient tolerance and acceptability before continuing a full treatment regime.
4. In exceptional circumstances where the patient is incapable of safely and effectively managing the medication regimen.

The use of blister packs to support phased dispensing is a service provided by many pharmacists to ensure that their customers manage their medication in a safe manner.

The medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment for an individual patient, including whether the dispensing of medication should be phased, is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. I, as the Minister for Health, have no role in this clinical decision-making process.