Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Sep 1996

Vol. 469 No. 2

Written Answers. - Product Authorisation.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

74 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, his Department has to ensure that Epipens is given product authorisation in Ireland to ensure that this drug can be made available to medical card holders who are anaphylaxis sufferers; if he will make a statement on the way in which people should deal with such allergies and ensure that health boards adopt a policy and provide facilities for the expert diagnosis of allergies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17124/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): It would be the responsibility of the manufacturer of Epipen to apply to the Irish Medicines Board for a production authoristion and I understand that as yet no such application has been made.

In relation to the treatment of allergies, sufferers should seek and adhere to the advice of their medical practitioners both at general practitioner and hospital consultant level. My Department has written to the health boards and voluntary hospitals alerting them to the problem of food allergies and advising them to raise the awareness of all appropriate medical personnel including general practitioners.