Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a law whereby a pharmacist must provide a detailed receipt including the price of each medication on the prescription. [15942/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) Code of Conduct for pharmacists requires pharmacists to ‘provide honest, relevant, accurate, current and appropriate information to patients regarding the nature, cost, value and benefit of medicines, health-related products and services provided by them.’ Patients are entitled to ask for a breakdown of their medicine costs and the person in charge of the pharmacy should provide that information. The PSI has advised pharmacies that this should include an itemised receipt.

In 2014, the PSI Council issued principles to all pharmacists relating to pricing transparency to guide practice in retail pharmacy. This includes providing meaningful advice to patients about medicines and their prices, including provision of an itemised receipt.

The PSI Council also commissioned the development of a Patient Charter - You and Your Pharmacist - which was launched in August 2016. It is a reflection of the standards set out in the Code of Conduct for pharmacists as they relate to people availing of the professional services, advice and care provided by a community pharmacist. It includes the commitment that patients ‘can expect your pharmacist to give you clear information about the cost of medicines, other pharmacy services and health products’.

As this is a matter for the PSI in the first instance, and the PSI have addressed this issue in their Code of Conduct and Patient Charter, I have no plans to introduce a law whereby pharmacists must provide a detailed receipt including the price of each medication on the prescription at this time.