asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that supplies of drugs required on prescription are not readily available at Dublin public dispensaries; and that they have to be collected at St. Kevin's at great inconvenience to the people concerned; and if he will make arrangements to have a full range of drugs available at each dispensary.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Drugs.
56.
Mr. O'Malley
I am informed by the Dublin Health Authority that, in general, drugs prescribed for eligible persons are readily available at the Dublin dispensaries and that, as far as practicable, a full range of drugs is stocked.
In the exceptional cases where drugs have to be obtained from the Central Pharmacy at St. Kevin's Hospital, they need not be collected there by the persons concerned, unless they wish to do so, as the items are delivered to the local dispensaries or to the patients.
Could the Minister tell us what delay would occur between the time prescriptions are handed in and the time they are provided at local dispensaries?
Mr. O'Malley
If the drug or medicine is available in the local dispensary, of course it is given immediately. If, however, a drug that is not available in the local dispensary can be obtained by the Central Pharmacy, I should imagine that in a non-urgent case it could be provided within two or three days, and in an urgent case within the same day.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that dispensary doctors send in requisitions for drugs and that only one-fifth to one-tenth of the quantity of these drugs is being supplied on request at local dispensaries?
Mr. O'Malley
There are about 30 cases a week, 1,500 a year, out of approximately 450,000 prescriptions for drugs and medicines which cannot be obtained at the local dispensary. I do not think 1,500 out of a total of nearly half a million is a high proportion.
Has the Minister ever seen the queue at the Central Pharmacy at St. Kevin's for drugs which cannot be supplied by local dispensaries? That is a daily occurrence.
Mr. O'Malley
There could be a queue but of course there would not be a queue if the people did not know they could get the drugs and medicines. I have given the statistics furnished to me by the Dublin Health Authority— 1,500 out of 450,000. These involve cases of exceptional drugs which, as the Deputy will appreciate, might not be carried by dispensaries, which cannot carry every drug on the list.