Donegal pharmacist demands new powers to deal with medicine shortages

BY JEROME HUGHES

A PROMINENT Donegal pharmacist is urging the implementation of an emergency mechanism to address the challenges posed by medicine shortages, which are forcing the sale of unlicensed products.

According to a new survey commissioned by Azure Pharmaceuticals, pharmacies are regularly selling unlicensed products.

Margaret O’Doherty from Raphoe Pharmacy is not surprised that over 40 percent of pharmacists are dispensing between one and five unlicensed medications daily due to shortages in the State.

“We want the power to make changes without having to constantly go back to the doctor.

“We want to be able to supply an equivalent product without the patient needing a new prescription,” explained Ms O’Doherty.

“It’s called the Serious Shortage Protocol in the United Kingdom. They have it there and it works very well so there’s no reason why it wouldn’t work here.

“It would make life easier for everyone,” added the pharmacist.

There is a growing shortage of medication globally because people are living longer and are more inclined to take care of their health.

“Also, because there is limited production capacity, drug companies will prioritise the more profitable product. When drugs go off patent, prices fall and manufacturers look elsewhere,” explains Ms O’Doherty.

The unlicensed medicines being sold in Donegal and around the country have not been rubber-stamped by Ireland’s Health Products

Regulatory Authority (HPRA) but are licensed in their country of origin.

“It’s a necessary workaround to make sure people are not left without the medicine that they need.

“Certainly, it’s a daily occurrence if not several times a day that we sell unlicensed medication.

“When a patient comes in for a product that’s not available, I have to find something to sort out the problem. Often, we can give them something that’s made in another EU country,” explained Ms O’Doherty from Raphoe Pharmacy.

The Azure Pharmaceuticals study has found that, increasingly, medicines are being sold with information leaflets that aren’t in English because they’re being imported from outside the EU.

“Absolutely, and there are other problems relating to packaging. If I give the same product in a different shaped container, there’s a danger that the patient might get confused and take it twice.

“Also, you might be on a 10mg tablet and I might explain that I have to give two 5mg tablets. An older person with sight issues etc might make a mistake and only take half the dose,” warned Ms O’Doherty.

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