Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Labour Party and I welcome this Bill. It provides the mechanism to allow us to can make regulations that will enable pharmacists to sell and supply approved medicines without the need for prescriptions. This is a positive step in addressing the increased pressure that is placed on GPs and GP services.

During a Private Members' debate this morning, I spoke about the lack of GP services not only in rural areas but also in cities and in my constituency of Fingal. Many people still face waiting times of up to two weeks to be seen. As the Minister knows well, the pressure on the health system as a result of waiting lists is significant. There is also pressure on accident and emergency departments, and the recruitment freeze is making everything worse. I raised an issue this morning and I will raise it again now with the Minister. It relates to a new community nursing home in Nenagh. That facility has been built. It was seven years in planning and development. My colleague Deputy Kelly received a communication from the HSE last week stating that it is unsure when the home will be staffed. St. Conlon's in Nenagh is not going to meet HIQA standards, so the community retirement facility to which I refer is much needed. I raised this with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, this morning. I raise it again now on my behalf and on that of Deputy Kelly. The recruitment freeze is an obstacle to getting this home staffed. It needs to be staffed. We had debates about long-term residential care before, and I am sure we will do so again.

Returning to the Bill, there is scope for the expansion of the role pharmacists and pharmacies play in delivering medication in communities. A change in this regard would not only improve access to essential medications, it would also ease the burden on our overburdened GP services. For many people, pharmacists are the first port of call when they have a medical issue. Pharmacists are trusted members of their communities. People have built up relationships with their pharmacists in the same way they have built up relationships with their GPs. Pharmacists are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to aid in reducing pressure on GPs but, most importantly, they have the knowledge and expertise to provide expert care either over the counter or in the consultation rooms that some of them have on site. Take, for example, the minor ailments scheme. Research commissioned by the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, last year shows the overwhelming support of pharmacists for expanding their role, with 96% of those surveyed stating that they were in favour of pharmacists being able to prescribe treatments for minor ailments and 94% in favour of pharmacists being able to repeat certain prescriptions without recourse to a GP. Pharmacist will obviously favour that. It will mean more business for them. I understand the financial benefit involved, it is the public benefit I am interested in. Again, it is just about trying to get access to services and to make it easier for people who are sick or who are running to the pharmacy for someone in their family who is sick to be able to get the medication they need as soon as possible. The public appetite for an expanded role for pharmacists is there. Whatever negotiations need to take place between the IPU and GP services, through the Minister and the HSE, must be brought to fruition.

The IPU has welcomed this legislation. As the Minister knows, the IPU has long advocated on behalf of patients for the introduction of these measures. The IPU feels, as I do, that the full expertise of Ireland's community pharmacists has long been an untapped resource. These service expansions will support patients to access treatments more quickly and easily. Ultimately, this is good news for patients and represents a positive step in patient care across the board.

Of course, this means that there will be significant additional work for pharmacists. They will now be responsible for providing the contraceptive pill in addition to having responsibility for being permitted to recommend clinically appropriate substitute medicines when a prescribed medication is unavailable. It is essential therefore that the supports provided for pharmacies are expanded as a matter of urgency. Pharmacies have faced a 16-year pay freeze. During that time, the rate paid to dispense medicines under the community drug scheme decreased by 24%, from €6 to €4.58, while the revenue generated by pharmacies under the community drug scheme decreased by 29%. That is not a sustainable trend, nor is it a sustainable model.

With regard to the second function of this Bill, we need to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all individuals regardless of their financial circumstances. Currently, eligibility for the medical card is based on a financial assessment conducted by the HSE. However, certain income sources, such as, for example, the rent-a-room relief scheme, are factored into this assessment, potentially disqualifying individuals from receiving or retaining a medical card. The Bill seeks to rectify this by introducing a disregard of up to €14,000 or other yearly limits subsequently set by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners for individuals with eligible income from the rent-a-room relief scheme. By excluding this income from the medical card assessment process, it is hoped that people who are actively aiding the State in addressing the housing crisis will not be denied access to the medical card for doing so. The reality is that students, people on low incomes or those with families are the primary beneficiaries of the rent-a-room scheme. If those who can access the scheme feel they will not face consequences for simply providing accommodation, that will be welcomed. This is not a handout to big landlords; it is a targeted relief scheme that will mostly be utilised by older couples who, as we know from research, are the people who, in the main, avail of the rent-a-room relief scheme. This Bill provides the requisite measures in this regard, and they are welcome. I acknowledge the Minister's work in this area. We will support this Bill.

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