Written Answers. - National Emergency Plan.
Michael Bell
Question:
53
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the steps being taken to ensure that the health services are properly equipped and prepared to deal with a chemical or biological accident or incident; the steps being taken to ensure that the health services are properly equipped and prepared to deal with a nuclear accident or incident, especially having regard to concern regarding the decision to proceed with the MOX plant at Sellafield, Cumbria; the number of iodine tablets held by each health board; the arrangements being made for the distribution of these tablets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25591/01]
At my request a committee under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Hall, director of the virus reference laboratory, was recently established to prepare an operational plan which would be implemented in the event of a biological attack on this country. While work on the detailed plan is progressing a specific protocol to deal with a suspected anthrax attack has been prepared, at my request, in light of the recent anthrax attacks in the United States. The committee agreed that in preparing a plan it will be necessary to identify the level of risk of such an attack and that the plan should reflect the risk identified.
The committee considered that as the risk of a primary attack on this country was low a plan should therefore be prepared to cater for a secondary attack. The committee is currently drafting a protocol to deal with other class A biological agents such as smallpox. The first draft of this protocol was examined by the expert committee which met this morning.
The Irish Medicines Board has confirmed that sufficient quantities of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin have been secured to treat patients in the event of exposure to anthrax. The Irish Medicines Board has further confirmed that they have also secured 300,000 doses of smallpox vaccine which can be used in the event of a smallpox attack. In addition, other relevant antibiotics which may be necessary are available in adequate supply.
The national nuclear emergency plan is co-ordinated by the Department of Public Enterprise. Stocks of iodine tablets were distributed to, and held by, all regional health boards since 1991 as part of the plan. However, it has emerged that some health boards have disposed of these stocks as they were past their best before date and these boards believed that they were ineffective. I am advised that current stocks held by boards are as follows: Eastern Regional Health Authority – 720,000 tested and usable tablets; South-Eastern Health Board – 360,000 tested and usable tablets; North-Eastern Health Board – 180,000 tested and usable tablets; North-Western Health Board – 30,000 untested tablets; Mid-Western Health Board – 300,000 untested tablets; Midland Health Board – nil; Western Health Board – nil; and Southern Health Board – nil.
Only the most severe nuclear accidents will require the use of iodine tablets. Ingestion of iodine tablets may be effective in preventing thyroid cancer in certain populations, especially children exposed to radioactive fallout. The necessity of continued stocking of iodine tablets as part of the health input into the national nuclear emergency plan was reviewed as part of an update of the overall plan. It was recommended that new stocks of iodine tablets should be purchased and pre-distributed as a more effective counter measure. I have accepted this recommendation and my Department is making the necessary arrangements as a matter of urgency for tendering and purchasing of new stocks.
The procedures laid down under Directive 93/36/EEC which allow for an accelerated tendering process for the award of public supply contracts are being followed to purchase these stocks at the earliest possible opportunity. The European Commission has been notified of our invitation to tender for the supply of 10 million iodide or iodate tablets. The deadline for submission of tenders is 13 November 2001. Furthermore, it is proposed to amend the relevant statutory instrument regarding the necessity for a product authorisation for this type of product to allow for quicker replacement of existing stocks.
With regard to pre-distribution, a number of possible methods are currently under consideration. These include, having a supply delivered to each household or distribution by health boards to households from local health board facilities or pharmacies, or a combination of these. In addition, consideration is being given to health boards and other facilities holding some stocks as a reserve.
