Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

260. To ask the Minister for Health if he will give detailed consideration to the pre-budget 2023 submission by an organisation (details supplied), particularly its call for fair pricing for prescription charges and increased support for community pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47798/22]

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

Firstly, I would like to reiterate my recognition of the key role of Pharmacy in the Community, and the very significant contribution made by this sector to patients and the public in responding to their health needs during the course of the pandemic. I acknowledge the vital role that community pharmacy will play in the development and implementation of future healthcare reform, especially in regard to the aims and vision of Sláintecare.

The Submission referred to in your question has been received by my Department and the content will be given due consideration in the context of wider health priorities during the current budget discussions. Notwithstanding this however certain of the matters raised have been previously drawn to my attention and work is ongoing on examining particular issues.

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Health Service Executive established a Community Pharmacy Contingency Planning working group with relevant stakeholders, including the IPU and the PSI, to support the implementation of all COVID-19 support measures in the context of pharmacy services and the contribution this sector could make. This group – now called the Community Pharmacy Planning Forum – had examined the operational and clinical challenges confronting community pharmacists during the COVID-19 emergency and played a key role in resolving them to the benefit of the people of Ireland. The work of the Forum has now transitioned to discussing the strategic direction of the community pharmacy profession. This will prove invaluable in the context of future contractual reform. Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.

In the interest of clarity, I would also point out that the regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure that were made under section 9 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009 expired at the end of 2019. Under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, these regulations had to be replaced by 1 January 2020 in order to maintain a statutory basis for contractor payments and to prescribe the fees payable from that date.  The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019 – S.I. No. 639 of 2019 – gave effect to the current pharmacy fees. Any future changes to the pharmacy fee structure will need to be made by regulations under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.

I was delighted to announce the commencement of the free contraception scheme for women aged 17–25, which is a big milestone in the delivery of our commitments, under the Women’s Health Action Plan 2022 – 2023 to improve all areas of women healthcare. Pharmacies who sign up to provide services under the scheme, are now further empowered to support women’s health with the provision of prescription contraception free to 17–25-year-olds.

Finally, the continued gathering of and analysis of up-to-date, robust and relevant data, will be a basis for recommendations that can be proposed to address Ireland’s needs as our integrated healthcare system evolves, and in the context of Sláintecare implementation.

I will engage as necessary with government colleagues in addressing relevant issues as they arise.