Written answers

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Department of Health

Community Pharmacy Services

Photo of John BrassilJohn Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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743. To ask the Minister for Health the reason cuts to the wholesale margin of products sold by pharmacists have not been considered as income in reviews conducted by his Department into the operation of FEMPI (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45803/18]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The 1996 Memorandum of Agreement between the Minister for Health and the Irish Pharmacy Union sets out the arrangements under which community pharmacy services are provided to public patients. The Agreement itself does not specify fees or mark-ups, other than “in accordance with such rates as may be approved or directed by the Minister from time to time after consultation with the Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee [of the IPU]”.

Section 9 of the 2009 Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, as amended by the 2015 Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, provides that, despite existing enactments or contractual or other arrangements, the Minister for Health may, by regulation made with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, vary payments to health professionals for services provided to or on behalf of a health body.

Section 9(13) of the 2009 Act requires me, as Minister for Health, to carry out an annual review of the amounts and rates set by regulation for contracted health professionals. As Minister, I must consider the appropriateness of the amounts and rates, in line with criteria set out in section 9.

The most recent review, carried out in June 2018, noted a 14% increase in the number of pharmacy contracts between 2008 and 2017 and a 13% increase in the number of items dispensed through the community drug schemes in the same period. I concluded that the current rates for pharmacy services are appropriate.

I consider that changes in contractor payments should be linked to Government priorities for the health service and service expansion or contractual developments and based on available resources.

Photo of John BrassilJohn Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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744. To ask the Minister for Health when the role of community pharmacists will be expanded in line with the commitment contained in A Programme for Partnership Government; the reason this has not been included in the Sláintecare implementation plan; the way in which the role will be expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45804/18]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Partnership Government is committed to expanding the role of community pharmacy where this can provide better outcomes for public patients. However, any expansion of services should address unmet public health needs, improve access to existing public health services delivered elsewhere or provide better value for money or patient outcomes if delivered through pharmacy.

Vaccination and emergency contraception services are already available in pharmacies. Other services, including in the areas of medicines management and treatment of minor ailments, will be considered in the context of available resources, the potential for health gain and Government priorities for the health service.

The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy sets out a vision where the vast majority of healthcare services will be available in the community, in the home or close to home.

One of the areas that the Strategy identifies for achieving this vision is the organisation and operation of community-based services based on population need and size, in line with the overall citizen care master plan and new models of care. This will require examining new or enhanced service delivery models for current community-based services by health professionals, with appropriate supports for new services to be delivered in community, rather than acute care, settings.

The Strategy is clear that all staff and contractors, including health professionals such as pharmacists, have a role to play in the implementation of reform.

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