Independent TD for Cork South-West Michael Collins has called on the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to guarantee that every effort will be made, in conjunction with the HSE and the Health Products Regulatory Authority to ensure the renewed availability of the anti-seizure medication, Rivotril.
Deputy Collins was speaking following his contribution to a Dáil debate on the Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 which will remove the acute public in-patient charge of €80 per day, up to a maximum of €800 in a year.
The Independent TD also raised concerns around both the continuing lack of access to Bantry General Hospital and the transfer of patients to Cork University Hospital (CUH), as well as the chronic shortage of adult respite beds due to staff shortages:
“The abolition of the €80 in-patient charge is of course very welcome, and it will certainly go some small way toward easing the significant financial burdens that can arise when people require hospital care,” said Deputy Collins.
“However there remain a host of other health related challenges that require urgent attention not least the appalling lack of respite bed availability for residents of west Cork.”
“There is also major concern growing about the potential lack of Rivotril, which is a medication that is indispensable for treating patients with Parkinson’s, epilepsy and other neurological conditions. Initial assurances were provided to the effect that a renewal of supply would be available by February. Then patients were told it would be back in stock by the 13th and then and 19th of March. Now we are being informed it will early April.”
“What is frustrating for patients and their families is the fact that the original notification of this shortage extends back to last year. I am aware that the Health Products Regulatory Authority have repeatedly engaged with the manufacturers Cheplapharm, but clearly there is a supply blockage somewhere and that needs to be identified and resolved as a matter of urgency,” Deputy Collins concluded.