Thirty three thalidomide survivors to receive healthcare package by year-end, writes MARIE O'HALLORAN
DETAILS OF a healthcare package for Irish thalidomide survivors will be ready by the end of the year.
Minister for Health James Reilly wrote to organisations representing thalidomide sufferers informing them that the “parameters” of a package were being drawn up by his officials and the HSE.
The Department of Health would be in touch “when it is in a position to discuss the details involved”, Minister of State for Health, Róísin Shortall, said in the Dáil last week.
But the department confirmed yesterday that it would contact the Irish Thalidomide Association and the Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society before the end of the year. There are 33 acknowledged survivors in Ireland who are entering their 50s.
Dublin North Labour TD Seán Kenny raised the issue in the Dáil, highlighting the difficulties faced by thalidomide sufferers on the 50th anniversary of the morning sickness prevention drug which resulted in major birth defects.
Mr Kenny said they were “suffering rapidly deteriorating health and disabilities usually seen in much older people”.
A spokesman for Dr Reilly said yesterday that work was under way with rheumatology and rehabilitation consultant at Beaumont Hospital, Dr Paul O’Connell, to devise a healthcare package.
It “would include comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment, based on best practice, to each individual survivor of thalidomide” and would ensure “the needs of the individual survivor are identified and a comprehensive plan of care is formulated in partnership with the individual and their family”, including areas such as medical, nursing and physiotherapy care.
Mr Kenny said the Irish Thalidomide Association was in discussion three years ago with the then minister about the fairness and adequacy of an arrangement entered into in 1976 and it was still awaiting a comprehensive response.
He pointed out that in other jurisdictions there had been a complete revision of these arrangements. The British government apologised in 2009 to those affected in Britain but “the Irish Government fails to acknowledge that a wrong occurred in this country”.
The Dublin North TD found it hard to believe the Attorney General had advised there was no legal responsibility for the State, when “the fact remains that the government of the day failed to remove the drug for several months after it had been declared unsafe”.
Ms Shortall, however, reiterated the State’s long-held position. “Responsibility for this tragedy rests with the manufacturer of the drug” and by the standards of the time “the department acted in an appropriate manner when faced with an unprecedented situation,” she said.
The programme for government commits the State to reopen discussions with thalidomide survivors. Dr Reilly met their representatives and said he would have to be guided by the State’s legal advice. However, he wants to enter “meaningful discussions about a financial gesture of goodwill towards Irish survivors of thalidomide. This would be in addition to a healthcare package,” Ms Shortall said.
Thalidomide survivors receive compensation from a German foundation. Ms Shortall said most Irish sufferers were in receipt of the maximum amount along with a payment from the department. Survivors on average receive a tax-free payment of €26,000 each year.