asked the Minister for Health if, in view of recent statistics, he will state the action he proposes to take to effect a reduction in the number of cases of aspirin poisoning especially among young people.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aspirin Poisoning.
72.
The National Drugs Advisory Board have had the question of safeguards in relation to medicines on open sale under consideration for some time past and have had a series of discussions with the Pharmaceutical Chemical and Allied Industries Association on the matter.
In the case of children's aspirin preparations, about which the board have been particularly concerned, the association have taken steps to implement the board's suggestions for
(a) reducing the strength and number of tablets in containers,
(b) Making the formulations less attractive to children, for example by removing orange and similarly flavoured preparations, and
(c) seeing that supplies on open display at supermarkets, and so on, are positioned out of children's reach.
In relation to other aspirin preparations while the association have indicated their acceptance in principle of recommendations made by the board, discussions are still proceeding in connection with their implementation by the industry. I am keeping in touch with developments in this regard.
The Minister does accept that the biggest contribution to accidents by poisoning is made by ordinary domestic aspirin?
I think the Deputy was given some statistics on 4th January about such accidents. The information was to the effect that one child under five years of age died as a result of an overdose of medicines. The exact figures are not available of the number admitted to hospital but it is estimated that the figure is of the order of 700. Therefore, while there was one fatal accident, I do not know whether it was caused by aspirin. It could have been some other medicine, but I am sure the Deputy is just as concerned as I am to know that 700 were admitted to hospital for accidents caused by such means as he suggests.
I am glad to hear that some of these sweet flavourings are being taken out, but these things are still freely available on the supermarket shelves. If the distribution of them could be confined to chemists' shops, we would have an improvement in the situation.
I referred to that in my reply.