Vol. 545 No. 5
78 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will publish the draft model plan for influenza pandemic preparedness of the national influenza pandemic committee; his views on its general conclusions; if he is recommending a constitutional amendment to give effect to one of the recommendations; and if adequate stockpiles of medicine exist to cope with a world-wide flu pandemic of the kind that is now statistically overdue. [27099/01]
In 1999 the World Health Organisation produced a detailed blueprint for an influenza pandemic plan. It set out the issues which arise nationally and internationally in relation to a possible future influenza pandemic. A pandemic would have very serious effects in terms of mortality and morbidity. Services such as acute hospitals and general practice would experience greatly increased workloads well in excess of those seen during more regular outbreaks of influenza.
Last year I established a committee, chaired by Professor William Hall, Director of the Virus Reference Laboratory, to draw up plans to address any future influenza pandemic and to address all relevant issues, including: prevention strategies; surveillance and early warning systems; scientific and medical issues; vaccination policy; pharmaceutical supplies and logistical matters; hospital and community responses; economic, legal and political concerns; communications; and an effective management process.
The preparation of the plan is at an advanced stage. The draft plan has been updated to take account of recent recommendations from the committee and as a result of the wider consultative process which has now concluded. Later this month the final draft of the plan will be considered by the committee. It is then expected that the plan will be presented to my Department later this year.
I look forward to receiving this document in the near future.
