Pubdate: Sun, 21 November 1999
Source: Sunday Independent (Ireland)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd
Contact:  http://www.independent.ie/
Section: Letters
Author: Trevor Sargent TD

DRUGS FIRMS THE WINNERS

Sir

I write to protest at Health Minister Brian Cowen's decision to make
the popular herbal supplement St John's Wort available only by
prescription.

There are no recorded instances of any adverse effects or interactions
from St John's Wort. It is sold freely throughout the rest of Europe
and the United States, and has been sold freely, over the counter, in
this country for years.

Yet, following a report in May by the Irish Medicines Board, the
Minister last month issued a statutory instrument making St John's
Wort available only by prescription in the New Year. At the 48th
Pharmaceutical Committee meeting in Brussels on September 27, all 15
EU states decided to explore the possibility of a Traditional
Medicines Directive, to include herbal medicines.

Why, when Ireland had already signed up to explore the possibility of
a Traditional Medicines Directive, did Minister Cowen introduce a
Statutory Instrument? Will Irish consumers now find such products as
evening primrose oil, garlic and fish oils in danger of being
``outlawed'' by the Minister and ``placed under arrest by the
pharmaceutical industry''? It would appear that the only people to
benefit from the Minister's decision will be the pharmaceutical companies.

Trevor Sargent TD.
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