Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Recently, I heard a doctor being interviewed on the radio. He established a for-profit hospital but stated he did not do so for money. I tried to figure out what he meant. Pharmacists can own premises where doctors have a medical practice. Doctors can own premises where pharmacists have a business. A normal landlord and tenant relationship can exist between them and planning authorities can give planning approval for these facilities.

If a group of doctors come together and advertise for someone to collocate with them and in a normal market situation the highest bidder is a pharmacist, no issue arises. However, it would be prohibited for somebody to demand extraordinary amounts of money for a pharmacist to locate there. It would not be normal market conditions and therefore outside the scope and would facilitate the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland or the Medical Council having an inquiry into fitness to practise.

The Bill will not allow any unethical behaviour or any benefit to the doctor from having the pharmacist on the premises and vice versa. A pharmacist, apart from those who sell other products, depends for his or her pharmacy business on prescriptions from doctors. Being close by, whether beside one or in the same shopping mall, is a huge convenience and a bonus factor. Other than those normal conditions, nothing can happen.

With regard to a review, this is new and pioneering legislation. It will give powers to the regulators, which is appropriate, to deal with these issues on the basis of fitness to practise and ethical guidelines. The society must draw up such guidelines on foot of this Bill. I am a strong fan of those being regulated having an understanding of what is required and permitted. This will be a challenge for the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and I have great confidence in its capacity to be able to do it.