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Medicinal Products

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Questions (1036, 1037, 1038, 1039, 1040, 1041)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1054 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 418 of 7 February 2012, when he expects to have the information promised in response to that question. [19207/12]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1055 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if the death of a Defence Forces member (details supplied) last month was reported to the Irish Medicines Board by the Defence Forces authorities in view of the fact that they had been on Lariam. [19208/12]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1056 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if the death of a Defence Forces member (details supplied) last month was reported to the city coroner by the Defence Forces authorities or him in order that the levels of Lariam in their body could be tested. [19209/12]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1057 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the team of experts the Defence Forces have access to for international health and tropical medicine. [19211/12]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1058 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the experts that exist in his Department with responsibility for international health and tropical medicine and how such care is provided. [19212/12]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1059 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the reason experts in international health and tropical medicine have not been made available to serving and former Defence Forces personnel who have suffered serious side effects from Lariam. [19213/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1054 to 1059, inclusive, together.

I am informed by the Military Authorities that they are compiling the documentation requested previously by the Deputy regarding information provided to personnel who were prescribed Lariam and I hope to forward this to him shortly.

Lariam is a malaria chemo-prophylactic agent first authorised for use in 1989 by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB), which is the statutory regulatory body charged with regulating the use of medicines, to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines available in Ireland. Research has shown that it is one of the most effective medications for protection against the type of malaria prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. While certain risks associated with the use of the drug were highlighted in Drug Safety Newsletters in 1996 and 2003, the Irish Medicines Board remained of the view that the benefit/risk profile for the product remained acceptable. The IMB continues to review the safety of this and all medicines on an ongoing basis and updates the product information as appropriate. Lariam remains the medication of choice for the Defence Forces for missions to sub-Saharan Africa and continues to be certified by the Irish Medicines Board.

In relation to the person referred to in the question, patient medical records are confidential and remain so even after death. It is not possible to disclose confidential patient information to third parties. I therefore can make no comment on any medical issues relating to the person referred to and can only address the generality of the questions raised by the Deputy.

There is no requirement to report whether a person who died had or had not taken Lariam or any other drug unless there was an issue directly linked to the taking of the medication which gave rise for concern. I understand that the death was reported to the coroner as is the requirement for all sudden death incidents. The Defence Forces' Medical Corps do not perform post mortems when a member of the Defence Forces dies in service. It is a matter for the Coroner's Office to determine whether a post mortem should be carried out, which would then be carried out by an appointed pathologist. It is a matter for that pathologist to determine what procedures and tests are used in post mortems.

The Medical Corps provides all medical advice to the Defence Forces. Where required the Medical Corps will accesses relevant external military or civilian medical expertise including in the area of tropical medicine.

The Medical Corps is charged with looking after the health of serving Defence Forces' personnel. It achieves this in conjunction with the civilian health services and other medical professionals as the need for additional or specialist services arises. There is no provision for the Medical Corps to provide a medical service to retired personnel. However, on request, copies of the service medical records of retired members can be provided to their nominated medical practitioner.

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