Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has launched a consultation process on whether to make a number of prescription-only medicines used in emergency situations more widely available. The drugs in question are:
• Adrenaline auto-injectors (for treatment of anaphylaxis/allergic shock)
• Salbutamol (treatment of asthma attacks and COPD)
• Glucagon (treatment of diabetic hypoglycaemia)
• Naloxone (treatment of opioid overdose like heroin)
• Glyceryl trinitrate (treatment of unstable angina)
The consultation process will gather views on whether the existing prescription-only arrangements for these medicines should be improved or relaxed, and whether non-medical people should have ready access to prescription-only medicines for use in emergency situations. The HSE is already preparing a pilot project for this year to make naloxone available to family members, friends and support staff of registered heroin users.
The closing date for submission of comments is March 13, 2015. |
