Dáil Éireann - Volume 497 - 25 November, 1998

Written Answers - Psychiatric Drugs.

Mr. Noonan Mr. Noonan

129. Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether the allocations in respect of drugs for psychiatric patients by the health boards are adequate in view of the fact that major advances in treatment of schizophrenia have been made, with more effective expensive medications being used to replace older antipsychotics; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to inadequate budgets psychiatrists are not prescribing the newer safer antidepressants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25067/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen) Brian Cowen

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen): The prescribing of medication for psychiatric conditions is solely a matter for the clinician concerned and there is no interference in the clinician's professional right and duty to prescribe as he or she deems appropriate. I am not aware that consultant psychiatrists are experiencing difficulties in prescribing the newer antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs.

Dáil Éireann 497 Written Answers Psychiatric Drugs.

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