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Substance Misuse

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2018

Tuesday, 16 October 2018

Questions (389)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

389. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to make naloxone available as an over the counter medicine to those properly trained in its administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41955/18]

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Written answers

Naloxone is a prescription-only medicine that ordinarily can only be supplied on foot of a prescription. However, the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended (S.I. No. 540 of 2003) allow certain prescription-only medicines, including naloxone for known or suspected narcotic overdose, to be administered by trained members of the public in emergency situations. Listed organisations are enabled to access an emergency medicine without the need for a prescription. Members of that organisation must first complete an approved course of training regarding the administration of such medicines and the management of any adverse reaction. The Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) has established a framework for the education and training of persons to safely and competently administer these medicines to those urgently requiring care.

In order for an organisation to avail of an emergency medicine without the need for a prescription, they must also register with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). The HPRA’s Emergency Medicines Portal is an online system that allows organisations to notify the HPRA of their intention to purchase a specified medicine from a pharmacy or other supplier for supply and administration in an emergency situation.

The Emergency Medicines Portal and the publicly available register of listed organisations is accessible on the HPRA website and can be found at: www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/emergency-medicines .

It is important to note that these regulations do not in any way change the existing ‘good Samaritan’ provisions, which allow any member of the public to assist a person in distress to administer a medicine which has been prescribed to that person.

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