Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

770. To ask the Minister for Health if he has or will conduct a review of pharmacy dispensing fees and the extent of service provision by community pharmacists; if he has or will engage with an organisation (details supplied) on the matter; the dates on which he has or will engage; if he will establish a review which encompasses the scope of services provided or which could be provided by community pharmacy; and if he will include scoping of a minor ailments or minor illness scheme in community pharmacy in the terms of reference of the aforementioned review. [31339/23]

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

771. To ask the Minister for Health if he has or will conduct a review of pharmacy dispensing fees and the extent of service provision by community pharmacists; if he has or will engage with an organisation (details supplied) on the matter; the dates on which he has or will engage; if he will establish a review which encompasses the scope of services provided or which could be provided by community pharmacy; if he will include scoping of a minor ailments or minor illness scheme in community pharmacies in the terms of reference of the aforementioned review. [31352/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

772. To ask the Minister for Health if he has or will conduct a review of pharmacy dispensing fees and the extent of service provision by community pharmacists; if he has or will engage with an organisation (details supplied); the dates on which he has or will engage; if he will establish a review which encompasses the scope of services provided or which could be provided by community pharmacy; and if he will include scoping of a minor ailments or minor illness scheme in community pharmacies in the terms of reference of the aforementioned review. [31353/23]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 732 and 770 to 772, inclusive, 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 pharmacy fee structure must be reviewed every third year after 2020. Section 42(10) of the 2017 Act sets out the matters that may be considered during this review. My Department is currently carrying out a comprehensive review.

Department officials held a meeting with the Irish Pharmacy Union on 20^thJune 2023 and a further meeting is scheduled for 26 July 2023.

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.