asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to publish the scientific report by Dr. Victoria Coffey on the incidence of thalidomide cases in Ireland; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Thalidomide Victims.
9.
The Medical Research Council submitted in 1963 a report by Dr. Coffey on a survey of limb deformities of a type which might be attributable to the use of thalidomide.
It did not purport to indicate where the use of thalidomide was the relevant factor.
I have examined the report. It contains clinical details regarding identifiable persons and consequently it would be inappropriate that it should be published.
10.
asked the Minister for Health the action the Government propose to take to ensure justice for thalidomide victims in their claim for compensation.
11.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that German legislation which came into effect in October, 1972, deprives parents of Irish thalidomide victims of their right to sue the German manufacturers of the drug; if the Act was passed with the knowledge and consent of the Irish Government; if so, why; and if, in view of the injustice, the Irish Government will seek to have the Act amended in the interests of Irish thalidomide victims.
12.
asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange that medical treatement under the Health Act, 1970, will be made available free to thalidomide victims irrespective of family means.
13.
asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by the Government to ensure direct responsibility for the provision of legal aid to claimants seeking compensation on behalf of thalidomide victims and the provision, free of charge, of all medical services and appliances to all thalidomide victims, irrespective of family income; and if the Government is prepared to establish a trust fund to ensure the continuous welfare of thalidomide victims.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 13 together.
I do not wish to reply to the questions in detail at this stage as I have the general position regarding Irish thalidomide children under active consideration. In my study of the matter I will bear in mind the points raised by the Deputies in their questions.
I have also arranged to meet representatives of the parents of thalidomide children in the near future to discuss the position with them.
One specific points raised in Questions Nos. 12 and 13 is the provision of medical treatment and appliances, free of charge, for thalidomide children, irrespective of family income. I will, of course, fully consider this matter but I would like to point out that a high proportion of these cases are entitled to hospital and specialist services under the Health Acts and I understand that the "hardship" clause, which enables health boards to accept persons not normally entitled if circumstances are unusually difficult, was applied liberally by health authorities in the case of thalidomide children. Chief executive officers of health boards were recently reminded of the desirability of continuing this liberal policy.
When my predecessor met representatives of the parents of thalidomide children on 29th January last, parents undertook to furnish to my Department particulars regarding expenses incurred in the treatment of the children to enable the position to be considered. Parents were informed to this effect in a letter of 8 February, 1973, from my Department. To date, four parents have submitted such details and these are being forwarded to the appropriate health boards for consideration.
Would the Minister not agree that it is a matter of importance to these people that they have this free medical service provided as of right because they were not responsible for the deformities of which their children are victims? In the circumstances, and in view of the small number of cases involved, would it impose an enormous burden on the Exchequer that they be provided with this medical service free of charge irrespective of the family means? Is the Minister also aware that many of these parents have had to go cap in hand to local health boards seeking the necessary financial aid and it has imposed a burden on them, irrespective of their occupation? In the circumstances would he not state that he is making available to them the medical services under the Health Act, irrespective of family means?
As I have told the Deputy, many of these are already covered but I certainly will consider any suggestion when considering the whole matter of the effects of thalidomade. I will certainly consider what the Deputy has said.
14.
asked the Minister for Health the number of children with deformities attributable to thalidomide born in Ireland in 1962 and 1963 respectively.
The Deputy will appreciate that not all deformities of the type induced by thalidomide are in fact attributable to that drug and for this reason it will not be possible to supply the information requested until the scientific investigations at present proceeding of all children with such defects born in the relevant period will have been completed in the coming months.
May I ask the Minister if he has yet received a report from Dr. Lenz giving details of all the thalidomide cases examined by him?
No. I am informed that these German medical professors are still investigating the matter. I have not had the report yet.
They have sent me a list.
The Deputy must have been more favoured than my Department.
15.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make available a copy of the circular issued to doctors and chemister in Ireland in January, 1962 in respect of the drug thalidomide and its compounds.
I presume that the question relates to a circular issued by the Irish wholesale distributors of thalidomide preparations manufactured in Germany. While the issue of the circular and a general indication of its contents are recorded in my Department, there is not a copy of it in the Department.
16.
asked the Minister for Health the total annual sales of thalidomide and its compounds from the time it was first introduced to Ireland.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairel, to circulate it with the Official Report.
The thalidomide preparations marketed in this country were manufactured in Germany and the information given in the reply was furnished to my Department by the Irish wholesale distributors.
Following is the statement:
Sales of Thalidomide Preparations
|
Name of Preparation |
Unit |
Total number of Units sold |
Number of Units returned to wholesaler |
||
|
1959 |
1960 |
1961 |
|||
|
Entero-Sediv: |
|||||
|
Tablets 10 mgm. |
20 |
536 |
2,054 |
2,340 |
269 |
|
,, ,, |
500 |
— |
38 |
83 |
6 |
|
Suspension |
Bottle 40 gms. powder to make up 100 c.c.s. = 100 mgm. thalidomide |
— |
859 |
2,772 |
296 |
|
Nocto-Sediv: |
|||||
|
Tablets 25 mgm. |
12 |
2,237 |
3,034 |
2,856 |
235 |
|
,, ,, |
100 |
161 |
1,004 |
1,585 |
69 |
|
,, ,, |
1,000 |
3 |
37 |
106 |
2 |
|
Predni-Sediv: |
|||||
|
Capsules 5 mgm. |
20 |
— |
572 |
755 |
179 |
|
,, ,, |
60 |
— |
308 |
441 |
104 |
|
Poli-Gripan: |
|||||
|
Tablets 12.5 mgm. |
20 |
504 |
4,185 |
13,300 |
3,774 |
|
Softenon: |
|||||
|
Tablets 25 mgm. |
24 |
1,664 |
1,836 |
— |
44 |
|
,, 25 mgm. |
100 |
219 |
1,393 |
238 |
66 |
|
,, 50 mgm. |
30 |
— |
— |
7,024 |
500 |
|
,, 50 mgm. |
500 |
— |
— |
111 |
15 |
|
Tablets Forte 100 mgm. |
12 |
— |
687 |
5,240 |
413 |
|
,, ,, ,, |
100 |
— |
47 |
1,335 |
99 |
|
,, ,, ,, |
1,000 |
— |
1 |
48 |
5 |
|
Syrup |
100 c.c. Bottle (Each 2.5 c.c.)= 2.5 mgm. thalidomide |
191 |
10,545 |
51,342 |
3,722 |
|
Drops |
10 c.c. Packs 1 drop=5 mgm. thalidomide |
— |
680 |
4,320 |
292 |
|
Suppositories 100 mgm. thalidomide each |
— |
36 |
48 |
32 |