Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

687. To ask the Minister for Health when the working group on community pharmacies is scheduled to come forward with proposals for his consideration. [4311/23]

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

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Health Service Executive (HSE) established a Community Pharmacy Contingency Planning working group with relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (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 impact of its work can be seen in the important role that community pharmacists played in the national COVID-19 vaccination programme – the largest vaccination programme ever undertaken by the state.

The Forum has now transitioned to discussing the strategic direction of the community pharmacy profession. The Forum provides an opportunity for all stakeholders, including the IPU and the PSI, to provide insights on how community pharmacy can be expanded in the context of healthcare reform.

While the Forum is chaired by the HSE, my Department is taking a active role in the work currently being undertaken. This will prove invaluable in the context of future contractual reform.

Any proposals arising will have to be considered on their merits, and, 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.