John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Minister for Health the action he will take to boost the role of community pharmacists in primary care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28224/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to acknowledge the vital role that pharmacies play in their communities.  In that regard, the Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to expand the role of community pharmacy in managing patient health, and this is an issue I intend to progress.

Work has been done in recent years on wider healthcare roles for pharmacies, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland’s Future Pharmacy report, concerning expansion of professional pharmacy practice. It is clear from this and other work that there is potential  to increase the range of publicly funded health services delivered through community pharmacy. Important new services, including influenza vaccination and emergency contraception services, have already been introduced.

New public services in community pharmacy should improve health outcomes and provide value for money and benefits for patients. Any new or transferred services should be based on sound evidence with matching improvements in governance and administration.

My Department intends to consult with contractor representative bodies on putting in place a new multi-annual approach to fees, in return for service improvement and contractual reform and in line with Government priorities for the health service. This approach is also intended to deliver a phased exit pathway from FEMPI for contractors and this will form part of the proposed consultation.