asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to protect the public in regard to the recent aspirin health hazards.
24.
Written Answers. - Use of Aspirin.
20.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a relationship between aspirin ingestion and Reye's Syndrome; the action he proposes to take about the use of aspirin by children and adolescents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 24 together.
Despite the relative rarity of Reye's Syndrome and the absence of evidence clearly linking ingestion of aspirin with development of the syndrome, the pharmaceutical companies have agreed with the National Drugs Advisory Board to take certain precautionary measures as follows:
1. All paediatric dose forms of aspirin will be confined to pharmacies, available on prescription only,
2. All aspirin-containing preparations will carry an additional warning on the pack—
"This product should not be given to children, particularly those under 12 years of age, without medical advice".
The board has circularised doctors and pharmacists about these arrangements and about the background to them. My Department was consulted by the board and I am satisfied that the action taken is appropriate to the situation.