Mayo general election candidate calls for action on medicine shortages

Mayo general election candidate, Keira Keogh, has called for urgent action on medicine shortages in the country.

The Fine Gael candidate said the issue is causing significant stress for patients and pharmacists, calling it ‘a recurring issue on the canvas.’ 

“Shortages don’t only impact costly medications but also everyday essentials like aspirin,” she explained. 

Pharmacists have been reporting ‘severe stock disruptions’, with one noting a third of usual stock is unavailable.

Another mentioned over 300 missing medicines, with hospital pharmacists echoing concerns as IV fluids and antibiotics at times ‘run critically low’.

Fine Gael Mayo General Election candidate Keira Keogh. 

Ms Keogh continued: “One pharmacist shared the story of a lady recently diagnosed with ADHD, who arranged time off for monitoring their blood pressure on their newly prescribed medicine ConcertaXL, but the pharmacist could not provide their prescription—a frustrating situation for the pharmacist and a worrying and stressful time for the patient who is unable to take more time off when the medicine becomes available.” 

She explained that Ireland’s smaller market ‘makes it less attractive for suppliers’, leaving critical drugs across oncology, diabetes, and cardiology particularly vulnerable. 

She highlighted that Brexit has ‘added complexity to the issue’, with Ireland and Malta now being the only English-speaking EU markets. 

The election candidate said she is bringing this matter to the attention of Colm Burke, Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing, and the National Drugs Strategy, and will request that it be raised as a parliamentary question. 

"Patients and their pharmacists should focus on recovery and care—not on sourcing or worrying about medicines," she concluded.