Written answers

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Department of Health

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1792. To ask the Minister for Health the financial and other supports given to pharmacies that have provided a service throughout the pandemic; if the staff providing the service will be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15453/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ongoing engagement between my Department, the HSE and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has resulted in a significant number of contingency measures being put in place to support community pharmacies since the start of the pandemic:

- Community Pharmacists have been recognised as ‘key workers’ during the pandemic to ensure access to priority testing for the COVID-19 virus.

- A patient’s previous GMS prescriptions was deemed sufficient for additional months;

- For pharmacies submitting their claims for reimbursement electronically, supporting documentation need not be submitted;

- The validity of a hospital prescription was increased from 7 days to one month;

- Where a high-tech prescription had expired, a GP prescription was sufficient for repeat dispensing purposes.

- The Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) Regulations of 3 April facilitated the electronic transfer of prescriptions to a pharmacy via the HSE’s Healthmail system and brought into effect changes to the length of prescription validity periods and repeat prescriptions rulesets.

Such contingency measures have reduced the burden on the health system as a whole and some of these measures have in fact been long standing asks on the part of the Irish Pharmacy Union in the context of maximising clinical expertise.

There is no doubt that there have been impacts on the business model of many community pharmacies over the course of the pandemic. The IPU and their members have been directed to the comprehensive suite of measures introduced by Government to support the commercial viability and sustainability of all businesses which are administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

With regards to the prioritisation of pharmacists for the Covid-19 vaccine, the HSE has requested that all Hospital Groups who are undertaking Healthcare Worker vaccinations ensure that retail/community pharmacists who register for vaccination were accommodated for dose one vaccination by the end of February.

There are currently almost 1,900 pharmacies employing approximately 2,300 pharmacists on a regular basis. As of week ending 21 March, the HSE have advised that the number of pharmacists who have yet to receive dose one vaccination is less than 60. However, these have been renotified to HSE vaccine leads and the HSE advise that all remaining pharmacists will receive their vaccination shortly.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.