Vol. 419 No. 6
152 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent media reports whereby hospitals in the Southern Health Board are alleged to be selling afterbirths to a foreign pharmaceutical company; if he approves of this arrangement; if his attention has further been drawn to the extent of this practice throughout all of the health board areas; and if he will give the names of the hospitals involved.
My Department has established from hospital and health board authorities the arrangements made for the disposal of placentae at each maternity unit in the country. Maternity units at the following hospitals have arrangements with a pharmaceutical company for the disposal of placentae: National Maternity Hospital, Dublin; Coombe Hospital, Dublin; General Hospital, Portlaoise; Regional Maternity Hospital, Limerick; Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; Letterkenny General Hospital; Sligo General Hospital; Waterford Maternity Hospital; St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny; St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel; Wexford General Hospital; St. Finbarr's Hospital; Erinville Maternity Hospital; Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe; University College Hospital, Galway.
The pharmaceutical company concerned has assured these hospitals that the placentae are used for medical purposes only. I have no objection to the arrangements currently in place.
