Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are all aware of the pressures our health system operates under. Those pressures were added to considerably with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. For many years, GPs have been telling us about the critical lack of new GPs coming into the system and the pressure that puts on them . I am sure, like me, that the Leader is aware of many citizens coming to our towns who find it impossible to get access to a GP, which is a serious problem.

I was heartened by an initiative adopted by the Irish Pharmacy Union. That initiative has been put forward to alleviate some of the pressure on GPs. It is called the minor ailments scheme. Pharmacists maintain that they feel that they can alleviate much of the pressure on GPs in respect of up to 40 ailments, such as hay fever, many skin ailments, etc. Apparently, the scheme has already been rolled out internationally, including in the UK, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands. It has proved to be a great success. Research from Scotland indicates that the system has the potential to eliminate one in every 20 emergency department visits and one in every seven GP visits. We know that the pharmacies provide a great service. They are located in many of our towns and villages across the length and breadth of the country. There are about 1,900 in total. Their hours are flexible. Many work seven days per week. With the arrival of Covid-19 and the added pressures on our health system, we need to adopt new thinking. This is a super initiative put forward by the country's pharmacists. I would like to see this explored. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health to the Chamber in order that we can debate what I feel is an exciting initiative from pharmacists.