PENS WHICH ARE used to combat anaphylactic shock could be made more widely available, the junior Health Minister says.
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Kathleen Lynch said that the Department of Health will hold a consultation on relaxing rules around the provision of the pens.
Epinephrine or adrenaline auto-injectors, commonly known by the brand name of EpiPen, are used in cases of major allergic reaction.
They made headlines last year when 14-year-old Emma Sloan suffered a fatal allergic reaction in Dublin city centre after accidentally eating satay sauce and her mother was unable get an Epipen from a chemist as it was not for use on her.
“Emma’s death was so avoidable,” her mother told the Oireachtas health committee.
Lynch said that the pens are only available to medical personnel or those with a prescription, but that there would be a consultation on relaxing those rules.
“Adrenaline pens, as injectable 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,” she told the Dáil.
“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.”
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