Micheál Martin
Question:75 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health if he has developed a national policy on allergies. [20143/96]
Written Answers. - Anaphylaxis Treatment.
Micheál Martin
Question:77 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health if he will review services available to persons who suffer from anaphylaxis; and if he will provide additional services for such people. [20145/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 77 together. Allergies arise from a very wide variety of causes and affect individuals in many different ways. Therefore, beyond advising sufferers to keep in close contact with their general practitioners or hospital consultants about their particular situation, it is difficult to set down a policy position which would adequately reflect the full range of situations which can arise. Consequently, I have no plans at present to produce a national policy on allergies. Anaphylaxis is associated most often with an allergy to peanuts and products containing peanuts. My Department has written to the health boards and voluntary hospitals alerting them to the problem of food allergies, in particular, to the problem of peanut allergy and advising them to raise the awareness of all appropriate medical personnel including general practitioners.
Micheál Martin
Question:76 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health if he will permit automatic pen injectors for the purpose of injecting adrenaline into anaphylaxis patients to be made available through the medical card system. [20144/96]
Limerick East): Automatic pen injectors containing adrenaline are intended for self-administration in the emergency treatment of allergic conditions. Medicinal products are provided free of charge to persons covered by medical cards under the general medical services scheme. Products included in the scheme must conform to certain published criteria. A key criterion is that the product must be the subject of a current product authorisation. The granting and continuation in force of such an authorisation indicates that the Irish Medicines Board has been satisfied as to the quality, safety and efficacy of the product concerned. To date no product authorisations have been issued in respect of automatic pen injectors containing adrenaline. It would, therefore, be inappropriate to reimburse this product under the GMS scheme until such time as an authorised product becomes available on the Irish market. I understand, however that automatic pen injectors remain available on a “named patient” basis to those for whom the product is deemed essential.