bloodrayne
08-19-2004, 05:04 AM
32 Hospitals Supplied Glands, Says Firm
An international pharmaceutical firm, Novo-Nordisk, has told RTÉ News that 32 Irish hospitals supplied it with pituitary glands over a ten-year period.
The company said that 2,500 glands were sent to Denmark from Irish hospitals to manufacture human growth hormone for children.
The glands were supplied between 1976 and 1986 and 'minor compensation' was paid to doctors and hospitals for the purchase of medical books, the company said.
It added that countries which supplied a large number of glands received a large number of growth hormone product, and Ireland benefited significantly from this arrangement.
Revelations At Three More Hospitals
Today, three more hospitals confirmed that they supplied glands from deceased children to the drugs firm.
In a statement this afternoon, the North Eastern Health Board confirmed that glands were supplied by Louth County Hospital in Dundalk and Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.
A number of pituitary glands were retained by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, but were not supplied and were subsequently disposed of.
A spokesperson for the board said it had no idea of the numbers involved as no records had been kept. It is believed the practice existed from the late 1970s to around 1985.
The NEHB said it has been co-operating fully with the Dunne Inquiry and has furnished it with all details requested since 2002.
The South Eastern Health Board earlier confirmed that one of its hospitals was also involved in the practice.
The SEHB said that as part of the Dunne Inquiry it examined records but could find no details relating to the supply of pituitary glands to any drug company.
However, recent correspondence from the pharmaceutical firm shows that from 1978 to 1984 Waterford Regional Hospital provided around 50 glands for the manufacture of human growth hormone.
Both the NEHB and the SEHB say they regret the distress this information has caused to families and relatives, and have set up confidential helplines. The SEHB can be contacted on 1800 300 6555. The number for the NEHB is 1850 24 1850.
Calls For Dunne To Complete Probe
Meanwhile, the organization representing Irish pathologists has said that the Dunne Inquiry should be allowed to complete its work on the organ retention controversy.
A spokesperson for the Faculty of Irish Pathologists said it was fully co-operating with the inquiry.
The medical body said that the controversy over the supply of pituitary glands was complex and that the Dunne Inquiry was the best forum for it to be examined under.
An international pharmaceutical firm, Novo-Nordisk, has told RTÉ News that 32 Irish hospitals supplied it with pituitary glands over a ten-year period.
The company said that 2,500 glands were sent to Denmark from Irish hospitals to manufacture human growth hormone for children.
The glands were supplied between 1976 and 1986 and 'minor compensation' was paid to doctors and hospitals for the purchase of medical books, the company said.
It added that countries which supplied a large number of glands received a large number of growth hormone product, and Ireland benefited significantly from this arrangement.
Revelations At Three More Hospitals
Today, three more hospitals confirmed that they supplied glands from deceased children to the drugs firm.
In a statement this afternoon, the North Eastern Health Board confirmed that glands were supplied by Louth County Hospital in Dundalk and Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.
A number of pituitary glands were retained by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, but were not supplied and were subsequently disposed of.
A spokesperson for the board said it had no idea of the numbers involved as no records had been kept. It is believed the practice existed from the late 1970s to around 1985.
The NEHB said it has been co-operating fully with the Dunne Inquiry and has furnished it with all details requested since 2002.
The South Eastern Health Board earlier confirmed that one of its hospitals was also involved in the practice.
The SEHB said that as part of the Dunne Inquiry it examined records but could find no details relating to the supply of pituitary glands to any drug company.
However, recent correspondence from the pharmaceutical firm shows that from 1978 to 1984 Waterford Regional Hospital provided around 50 glands for the manufacture of human growth hormone.
Both the NEHB and the SEHB say they regret the distress this information has caused to families and relatives, and have set up confidential helplines. The SEHB can be contacted on 1800 300 6555. The number for the NEHB is 1850 24 1850.
Calls For Dunne To Complete Probe
Meanwhile, the organization representing Irish pathologists has said that the Dunne Inquiry should be allowed to complete its work on the organ retention controversy.
A spokesperson for the Faculty of Irish Pathologists said it was fully co-operating with the inquiry.
The medical body said that the controversy over the supply of pituitary glands was complex and that the Dunne Inquiry was the best forum for it to be examined under.