Marking today's International Braille Day, the National Council for the Blind of Ireland has called for the introduction of braille and large-print labelling on medicines in Ireland in accordance with a proposed EU directive.
The council said a European study had recently found that one in five of the adult population (21 per cent) - rising to nearly three in four people (73 per cent) with sight problems - were potentially at risk because they struggled to read labels and instructions on medicines or doctors' letters.
The proposed directive would ensure that basic product information, such as name and dosage, would be given in braille and in large print on medicine packaging, the council said.
Telephone helplines and websites would also be set up as a source of product information, and would be available in accessible formats.
And Internet-based information would be available on accessible websites.
The council called on the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, to lend his support to the directive, which had been overwhelmingly approved by the European Parliament.
An estimated 550,000 Irish people experience difficulty accessing vital medical information, it said, and it was important to help avoid potential accidents.