Irish Pharmacists offer assistance to patients stranded abroad

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 10:18

20 April 2010: The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), the representative body for 1,800 pharmacists across the country, is advising patients who are running out of prescription medicines while stranded abroad, to contact their local community pharmacist in Ireland, who will do their best to assist them to get their medicines in this emergency situation.

Liz Hoctor, President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, said: “Irish pharmacists have received calls from many of their patients who are stranded abroad due to the cancellation of flights. These patients are extremely worried because they are running out of prescription medicines.”

Ms Hoctor said: “It is very important that people continue to take the medicines that have been prescribed for them. Many medicines have different brand names in other countries and this can cause confusion when a patient tries to get a prescription from a doctor or goes to a pharmacy in a foreign country.”

She continued: “However, Irish pharmacists are doing their best to ensure these patients have all the necessary information to assist them to get their medicines in this emergency situation.”