Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

293. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the current pharmacy fee structure review as part of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017; when the review is due to be published; when he will communicate with an organisation (details supplied) on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30195/23]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

308. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30320/23]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 293, 308 and 371 together.

I recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of healthcare service reform.

In that regard, various approaches to extending the scope of practice of community pharmacists are being progressed by my Department. The implementation of these necessitates engagement with a range of stakeholders and full consideration of all the relevant legislative and operational issues involved.

The regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure are set out in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (No. 34 of 2017) and in S.I. No. 639 of 2019, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019, which put the current fee structure in place, with effect from 1 January 2020.

Under Section 42(14) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 the current pharmacy fee structure must be reviewed every third year after 2020. My Department is currently carrying out a review and Department officials have held a meeting with the Irish Pharmacy Union in that regard.

I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community pharmacists, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. 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.