asked the Minister for Health the number of instances, if any, reported to his Department with regard to forged prescriptions; and the measures his Department are taking to combat this practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forged Prescriptions.
12.
While my Department has received reports from time to time in relation to forged prescriptions for drugs of abuse, particularly from the Garda Drug Squad and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, I am not in a position to indicate precisely the number of such instances. Generally, however, forged prescriptions have not been a serious problem.
Early in 1970 reports were received that a number of such prescriptions had been presented for dispensing in the Dublin area and in April, 1970, my Department issued a special notice through the Pharmaceutical Society to all retail pharmacists in the Dublin area alerting them to the position and suggesting the steps which might be taken where prescriptions were suspected of being forged. Doctors were alerted through The Irish Medical Association Journal to the danger of forged prescriptions and to the need for safeguarding stocks of headed notepaper and prescription pads.
Following recent reports of thefts of prescription pads and headed notepaper from hospitals, a circular was issued to health boards and hospital authorities urging the review of security arrangements and stressing the need to ensure that prescription pads and hospital notepaper are secure from theft.
Has the Minister given consideration to the question of a special number for doctors—and this would be a safeguard against these forgeries—as a precaution to enable the chemist to know that a prescription was valid and genuine?
I will give the Deputy's proposal to the next meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee on Drug Abuse to be held on 15th December when all these kinds of matters will be discussed.