CONFUSION OVER SUPPLY OF MEDICINES POST BREXIT
... but Harris warns against stockpiling
MINISTERS last night urged the public not to stockpile medicines – but did not clarify what drugs might be in short supply in case of a no-deal Brexit.
Health sources admitted that 45 products have an uneven supply line with or without Brexit, but have little idea what others drugs or medicines could be affected by Britain crashing out of the EU.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin told the Dáil that approximately 240 medicines were already listed as being ‘in short supply’.
However, the Taoiseach then claimed in the chamber that there were only 24 medicines that were a matter of concern but did not specify their names or nature.
Confusion then arose when senior Department of Health officials made clear to the Irish Daily Mail that they had no idea where the Taoiseach was getting his figure.
Health Minister Simon Harris told a press conference that there were fears in relation to immunotherapy, intravenous feeds and radiotherapy drugs.
But he later admitted he could not say that shortages would be confined to these areas.
Asked by the Irish Daily Mail if he would specify the limited number of drugs and conditions likely to be affected, Mr Harris did not do so, but said: ‘We shouldn’t create a panic here.’
A spokesman for the Taoiseach last night told the Mail that Mr Varadkar’s mention of 24 medicines was ‘a state-of-play figure. He got it from officials.’ He added: ‘It may be a ballpark figure.’
A statement issued ahead of a press conference with Simon Harris, Simon Coveney and Shane Ross on the issue declared: ‘It is important to note that there is no need for hospitals, pharmacists or patients to order extra quantities of medicines. Doing so could disrupt existing stock levels and hamper the supply of medicines for other patients.’
There are approximately 4,000 medicines marketed in Ireland, of which 60to 70% come from or transit through the UK – meaning 2,400 to 2,800 in this category.
The HSE and the Health Products Regulatory Authority had advised the Government: ‘A small number of these products may be vulnerable for reasons such as their short shelf life, special storage and transport requirements and single supplier reliance’.
Mr Harris stressed that there were currently no medicines ‘where we will experience an immediate shortage after March 29’, when Britain is scheduled to leave the EU.
The minister said he was confident that contingency planning would ensure that medicines in vulnerable supply chains would remain available.
He added: ‘In relation to individual conditions, we shouldn’t create panic here. Nor have we been informed of any products that are available today that won’t be available after March 29.’
He stressed that contingency plans were in place and discussions were taking place with industry, and had been for months. There was no need for alarm.
‘There are weekly meetings in my department at a very senior level,’ he added.
Earlier, the Taoiseach that the 24 medicines he had mentioned were ‘the ones to which we must pay particular attention’.
‘We shouldn’t create panic here’