Vol. 517 No. 2
105 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of antibiotics used in 1999; the comparative figure for 1998; if he has satisfied himself that his Department has made sufficient efforts to reduce antibiotic use; and the action, if any, he has taken on this issue. [9403/00]
The total figures in connection with the amount of antibiotics used are not readily available. The frequency of use of antibacterials for systemic use, which encompasses antibiotics, under the general medical service during the ten month period January to October 1999 was 1,477,616 and for the equivalent period in 1998 it was 1,492,284.
Because of increasing concerns both in Ireland and abroad in relation to the problem of antimicrobial resistance, I have asked the National Disease Surveillance Centre to evaluate the problem in Ireland and to formulate a strategy for the future.
A multidisciplinary committee – a subgroup of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the NDSC – was established to devise such a strategy and its report will be submitted shortly to the Scientific Advisory Committee. Surveillance of antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial use, prevention of the spread of resistant organisms and control of antibiotic use is a major part of this strategy.
