Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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217. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the ongoing regulatory costs for pharmacists of €400 - €570 on first registration - which each pharmacist and €2,250 - €3,500 on first registration - which each pharmacy must pay each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49769/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is an independent, self-financing statutory body, established by the Pharmacy Act 2007. It is charged with, and is accountable for, the effective regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies in Ireland, including responsibility for supervising compliance with the Act.

Under the Act, the PSI is responsible for the registration of pharmacists, pharmaceutical assistants and pharmacies and other functions relating to the education and training of pharmacists. These functions are funded by fees paid by registrants. The setting of fees for the pharmacy profession is governed by the Act which requires the PSI to make an application for ministerial consent to any fees that it proposes to charge. This process allows for the consideration, and examination, of the Society’s fee proposals by my Department.

In 2008, the PSI commissioned an extensive review of its functions arising from the implementation of the Pharmacy Act 2007. The process included a comparative analysis of comparable international pharmacy regulators and consultation with national stakeholders. Arising from that review the fees for registrants were set by the Council of the PSI with the approval of the then Minister for Health. In 2010, following an internal review of fees and the cost of regulation, the PSI Council sought and received Ministerial approval for a reduction in continued registration fees of approximately 10% for pharmacists, pharmaceutical assistants and pharmacies. The PSI has recently commissioned a new review of fees.