Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2006
175 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether it is beneficial to require chemists to advertise, promote and stock in a visible location organ donor cards; if she will engage pharmacy representatives in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8843/06]
View answerMy Department is advised by the Health Service Executive that arrangements have recently been put in place to facilitate the distribution of organ donor cards throughout the community pharmacy network. The Irish Pharmaceutical Union has arranged with the Irish Kidney Association on behalf of the Irish donor network, for pharmacies to stock organ donor cards.
The annual organ donor awareness campaign, which is organised by the Irish donor network, administered by the Irish Kidney Association and which has been supported by my Department, highlights the requirement for increased organ donation. In addition, and in the context of increasing the number of donor organs available for transplant, the Health Service Executive was asked by the Department to undertake a review and analysis of the factors that impact on organ procurement and retrieval rates in hospitals around the country. My Department is advised that this review has commenced.
