Written Answers. - Medicinal Products.
Liz McManus
Question:
893
Ms McManus
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his views on the concerns expressed by members of the public at the denial of access to vitamins and herbal treatments due to restrictions applied by the Irish Medicines Board.
[15409/02]
Seán Haughey
Question:
926
Mr. Haughey
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if he will allow natural healthcare products continue to be used without a prescription; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15500/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 893 and 926 together.
I assume that the Deputies are referring to the availability of traditional, alternative and herbal medicinal products. In this regard, I would like to inform the Deputies that my Department is not seeking to restrict availability of these medicinal products, other than in cases where there may be overriding public health considerations. On the contrary, in order to seek to ensure the continued availability of such products that are of appropriate quality and safety, my Department is currently examining proposals from the Irish Medicines Board for the control of these products, the aim of which is to provide the consumer with an assurance that the traditional medicinal products which they buy are produced to an appropriate quality standard; safe under the recommended conditions of use; can be expected to be effective in the context of their established tradition of use; and are appropriately labelled.
In order to gain the most from these types of medicinal products, it is essential that they be controlled by an appropriate authority to ensure that, like all other medicinal products, they are of an appropriate quality and safe for the consumer to use. The interests of public health can best be realised when there is a formal mechanism for the assessment of these products and a subsequent means of monitoring their use in order to assure their continued safety in use.
The Deputies should be aware that a proposed EU Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products was agreed by the European Commission on 17 January 2002. This proposal has now been sent to the European Parliament and Council. I understand that the Irish Medicines Board proposal for an interim national control scheme for these products is broadly in line with the proposed EU directive. Both the Irish Medicines Board proposal and the proposed EU directive are currently being examined in my Department.
The Deputies may also be interested to know that, at my request, the Irish Medicines Board recently organised a seminar for interested parties to review the implications of its proposed scheme for the control of these products. This seminar was held in May and proved to be a useful and constructive exercise which facilitated the exchange of information and opinions. I have also received a number of representations from various interested parties, including members of the public, all of which will be considered in the context of our ongoing examination of the IMB proposed scheme of control and the proposed EU directive.
