Prescription requirement for 20 medicines to be removed

Thousands of patients will be able to get medicines over the counter where previously they had to have a doctor’s prescription, it has been announced.

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB), which regulates the pharmacy industry, revealed yesterday that 20 different types of medicine which currently need a doctor's prescription will soon not need them at all.

The announcement was made by board chief executive Pat O'Mahony at the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) national pharmacy conference in Cavan this weekend.

Mr O’Mahony declined to name the medicines in advance of 12 of them initially being subject to a public consultation period before becoming over-the-counter products.

Incoming IPU president Kathy Maher said she believes the medicines will involve treatments which are available over-the-counter in other jurisdictions including the North, but can only be obtained in the Republic with a doctor's prescription.

That includes common oral treatments for thrush, low dose aspirin (75mg), chloramphenicol for minor eye infections and treatments for migraine.

She said the implications for patients will be “phenomenal. It will improve the access for patients and frees up GP time,” she said. “It’s a no-brainer. These medicines will still need a healthcare professional, so there will still be a pharmacist involved.

“We have long argued that too many medicines are prescription-only, and that pharmacists should be empowered to have greater discretion in deciding whether or not to dispense medicines to patients.

“This is key to improving public access to medicines in a safe environment. The news is very welcome, and we will engage with the IMB as a matter of urgency to ensure that this progresses as quickly as possible.”

Pharmacists at the conference also expressed “outrage” at the wholesale withdrawal of medical cards over recent months.

IPU general secretary Darragh O’Loughlin said it was now “clear beyond dispute” that the HSE was actively withdrawing medical cards, particularly those which patients had received on a so-called discretionary basis.

Mr O’Loughlin said pharmacists are reporting having seen increasing numbers of patients who have had cards withdrawn in recent months.

“Cards are being withdrawn from patients including very vulnerable patients on an indiscriminate basis. This is causing real hardship for patients who are utterly dependent on their medical cards and who are finding that the cards are being withdrawn without notice or explanation.

“Patients with long-term illnesses such as diabetes are left extremely worried about how they are going to access essential and often life-saving treatment such as insulin.”

Mr O’Loughlin accused the Government of being disingenuous in suggesting the criteria for granting medical cards have not changed.

“There has clearly been a decision to drastically alter the manner in which discretionary cards are granted, and that is having a real impact on people who are often in very vulnerable situations,” he said.