Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and for the opportunity to clarify the position on the introduction of a minor ailment scheme in community pharmacies on behalf of the Minister for Health.

The programme for Government contains a commitment to expanding the role of community pharmacies in managing patient health, and there have been a number of proposals in recent years to expand clinical pharmacy services, which the Senator outlined. These include recommendations to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland's 2016 Future Pharmacy Practice report, and proposals from the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, and others. In addition, it is intended that a modernised service contract will include improvement and expansion of pharmacy services for public patients. Important new services, including influenza vaccinations and emergency contraception, have been introduced in recent years. I can now go to a community pharmacy for the influenza vaccination, which is a great benefit.

The Minister acknowledges that community pharmacists have played a pivotal role in responding to the health needs of the public during the Covid-19 crisis, most recently in assisting with the vaccination roll-out, which happened last week. I do not yet have data on the success of this roll-out, but it is very welcome.

New public health services in community pharmacy, as elsewhere, should address unmet public health needs, improve access to existing public health services or provide better value for money or patient outcomes to be funded by the taxpayer. Any new or transferred services should also be based on sound evidence with matching improvements in governance and administration. One such proposal for an expanding community pharmacy service is a paid minor ailment scheme whereby pharmacists treat medical card patients directly with over-the-counter items for specified minor conditions, without the patient needing a GP prescription. It has been suggested that such a service will produce better patient outcomes and reduce GP consultations for general medical services scheme patients with minor conditions. Pharmacist already provide the services for private patients and it is within their scope of professional practice.

As the Senator outlined, the HSE undertook a three-month feasibility study in Kells, Roscommon, Macroom and Edenderry. Five conditions - dry skin, dry eyes, vaginal thrush, scabies and threadworm - were selected, with clinical protocols in place for safe and accountable practice. The pilot was intended to demonstrate the feasibility of delivering such a service, and the HSE report found its operation with regard to IT and the claiming infrastructure was effective. The Senator also said that a larger trial, with a defined outcome assessment, will be required to produce meaningful data on clinical outcomes, patient experience, and the effects on GMS-GP activity for minor conditions. If this matter is to be progressed, more extensive trialling will be required to determine the effectiveness or otherwise of a minor ailment scheme in an Irish healthcare context.

The Minister met with representatives of the IPU last December, when the minor ailment scheme and other issues were discussed. He stated that he wants to see the expansion of the role of community pharmacists through a new contract in line with Sláintecare objectives. In this regard, it is intended that any discussions on progressing the issue will take place in the context of broader consultation with pharmacy representatives on a replacement for the current pharmacy contract.