Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 February 2018
118. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if each of the Defence Forces medical officers involved in the use of malaria chemoprophylaxis hold additional qualifications in tropical disease and medicine; and if so, the additional qualifications in each case. [5770/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the military authorities that all Defence Forces Medical Officers have a clinical commitment to patients, and as such could be involved in the preparation and examination of personnel for overseas deployment which may include the assessment of suitability for and prescription of malaria chemoprophylaxis.
All Defence Forces Medical Officers must possess at a minimum the professional qualifications of Medical Bachelor (M.B.), Bachelor of Surgery (B.CH), Bachelor in the Art of Obstetrics (B.A.O) or equivalent. They must hold current, full registration with the Medical Council of Ireland. By date of entry into the Defence Forces they must also have had three (3) years post graduate experience.
There is on-going litigation in relation to the use of malaria chemoprophylaxis in the Defence Forces. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate to comment in relation to the specific qualifications of potential witnesses.
