Written Answers Nos. 143-153
147. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26731/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
148. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of requests for meetings he has received from private, external, non-State-funded lobby groups; the number of meetings he has held with these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26702/15]
View answerSince my appointment as Minister for Health I have had numerous requests for meetings. The specific information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and I will reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible, both for myself and Minister Lynch.
149. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the protection in place for Health Service Executive staff who are accused of assaulting or abusing a patient or service user in facilities for persons with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26713/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
150. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive the orthopaedic shoes for which that person has been waiting for some time. [26716/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
151. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the facilities available in counties Wicklow and Carlow for those under 18 years of age who need assistance for addiction; the organisations that assist the statutory bodies in the provision of this assistance; the funding allocated; to whom is it allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26721/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
152. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if he will make an urgent determination in regard to an application for night time nappies in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26727/15]
View answerAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to you. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
153. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the action the Government will take to halt the online trade in illegal medicines, in view of a recent fatality. [26728/15]
View answerThe Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority in Ireland for human medicines. The HPRA, in cooperation with the Revenue’s Customs Service, An Garda Síochána and other international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, actively monitors the online movements and supply of prescription and illicit medicines to Ireland. The HPRA uses a range of enforcement powers to tackle this activity including seizing product and taking prosecutions.
In April 2015, following coverage in the British press of the death of a young woman that was linked to Dinitrophenol (DNP), a warning was issued by the HPRA highlighting to consumers the dangers of taking slimming products purchased online. DNP is a highly toxic substance not fit for human consumption, which can cause serious harm and death. Subsequently, following the death of a young Irish man suspected of having taken the same product, another warning was issued by the HPRA in June.
The HPRA’s enforcement officers and An Garda Síochána are liaising regarding their respective investigations into the supply of the DNP product and the events surrounding this recent death. They continue to work together to monitor and investigate instances of supply of illegal medicines via the internet.
On July 1 the EU logo signifying the legitimacy of websites of pharmacies and medicines retailers was introduced in order to place controls upon, and reduce the significant health risk posed by, falsified medicines. Members of the public are strongly urged not to purchase medicines from an internet site which does not have the EU internet logo. In Ireland these controls apply to pharmacies/retailers involved in the internet supply of non-prescription medicines. The internet supply of prescription medicines continues to remain prohibited in Ireland on grounds of public health protection.
I would reiterate the advice of the HPRA and recommend against the purchase of any prescription, or unauthorised medicines online. Further information can be found in the HPRA’s leaflet, “The Dangers of Buying Prescription Medicines Online”. For those already in possession of such products, consumers who feel any ill effects from taking any products purchased online should contact their doctor immediately. Any remaining product should not be taken.
