Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. The matter I seek to raise is a follow-up to a presentation made by the Irish Pharmacy Union at a recent meeting of the joint committee. It concerns a new medicine service. This applies to people who have a long-term illness but have been prescribed a particular new medication. It has found that people who experience complications are reluctant to go back to their GPs. Pharmacists are offering to provide a follow-up service where the person could come back to the pharmacy within a three to five day period, to ensure that the medication prescribed is working and that they do not have difficulties with it, and if difficulties arise they will be dealt with at an early stage. As the Minister is aware, there is a complaint about medication being prescribed and not being properly used. When this happens with older people, there is a need for a direct connection between the pharmacist and those who have prescribed the medicine. The Irish Pharmacy Union is talking about providing this service as a follow-up service which would be put in place once the person has been prescribed the medication.