Question to the Minister for Health (Dr. Leo Varadkar, TD)
To ask the Minister for Health his plans to make EpiPens more widely available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer
For WRITTEN ANSWER on Wednesday, 21 January 2015.
REPLY
Adrenaline pens, as inject able medicines, may only be supplied on foot of a valid prescription. However, there is provision in the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 (as amended) which permits pharmacists, advanced paramedics, paramedics and emergency medical technicians, in emergency circumstances, to supply certain prescription only medicines including adrenaline injections without a prescription.
My Department is currently reviewing policy in this area and will shortly carry out a consultation process on wider availability of a number of prescription only medicines used in emergency situations including adrenaline auto-injectors. This review will explore, among other things the use of guidelines or protocols by means of which non-health professionals may supply and administer adrenaline auto-injectors without a prescription.