Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, is very welcome to the House. This is a straightforward, simple Commencement matter. I am looking to learn when the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, will appoint a chief pharmaceutical officer in the Department of Health. This is commonplace throughout the world and in practically every other European country. Yet, in this country we do not have one. We have a Chief Medical Officer and we saw the great work her predecessor did during the pandemic, and indeed the great work she is doing now. We have a chief nursing officer, who brings together all strategies to do with nursing and nursing care in this country. We have a chief veterinary officer in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who brings together all those various issues.In the Department of Health, there is a chief dental officer, who brings together all policies on dental care. A chief pharmaceutical officer would push forward the role pharmacists play in this country. Pharmacists are totally underutilised in relieving the pressures on the front line, particularly in general practice. Of all the flu vaccines administered last year, 30% were given in pharmacies. That percentage could be much higher and, in addition, there are many other vaccines and tests pharmacists could administer. A report launched last week on cardiovascular care in Ireland referred to a simple, straightforward screening programme. Such a programme could easily be carried out by the network of pharmacists throughout the country. It should be done.

There is no strategic plan for pharmacy services. We need such a plan, driven by a chief pharmaceutical officer in the Department of Health. Representatives of the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, attended a meeting of the Oireachtas health committee yesterday. They have been calling for years for the appointment of a chief pharmaceutical officer. They have also been long calling for the establishment of a strategic plan for the delivery of pharmacy services. They want to do more to help the front line. They want to undertake the screening programmes and play a much greater role in the administration of vaccines. They are willing and ready to do it. They have a network of shops in every town and village in the country. They know their customers and, in many cases, they know those customers' medical needs. They are well placed to do much more of the work being done by general practitioners, particularly screening and vaccinations. There are many other areas in which they could play a vital role.

The creation of a more formalised structure for the delivery of pharmacy services requires the appointment of a chief pharmaceutical officer and the creation of a strategic plan. That should be done. It makes sense and is in line with best international practice. I would like to know why it has not happened before now and what timeline we are looking at for such an appointment.