To: The Minister for Health, Health Service Executive (HSE), HPRA
Make Adrenaline Pens Available Without Prescription
I am calling on the goverment and the HSE to make adrenaline auto-injectors (e.g. EpiPens) availible over the counter for anyone. I strongly believe that Adrenaline Auto Injectors should be availilible over the counter to anyone at risk of anaphylaxis. Severe allergic reactions can happen suddenly, even in people who have never experienced one before, and immediate access to adrenaline is often the difference between life and death. Requiring a prescription can create dangerous delays, especially during a first-time reaction or in emergencies where a doctor is not immediately availible. EpiPens are safe when used as directed and are the only proven, life-saving treatment for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Thousands of children and adults in Ireland live with severe allergies, and hospital admissions for anaphylaxis are rising. By making EpiPens availible without a prescription, the goverment would protect vunerable individuals and prevent avoidable deaths. This change is urgent and could safe countless lives.
Stats:
Stats:
- Fatal food induced anaphylaxis most commonluy occurs in the second and third decades of life, often due to delayed use of adrenaline.
- While deaths from anaphylaxis are rare, they are estimatyed to occur in about 1 in 2 million people per year in Ireland.
Why is this important?
In Ireland, Ambulance response times for life threatening emergencies have been incraesing, with Category 2 calls averaging 35 minutes and 11 seconds, surpassing the 30 minute targets. In some regions, such as Cork, there have been instances where ambulances have taken over an hour to arrive to high priority calls. Given that anaphylaxis can progress rapidly, requiring immediate administration of adrenaline, these delays can be life threatening. Without timely access to adrenaline, individuals expreincing anaphylaxis face increased risk of fatality. Ensuring that autoinjectors are availible over the counter would allow people to act swiftly in emergencies, potentially saving lives while awaiting professional medical assistance