Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Health to outline in full the discussions that have taken place between him and a union (details supplied) in relation to the restoration of pharmacy fees and new services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41971/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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.

There has been ongoing engagement between Department officials and the Irish Pharmacy Union regarding the potential to extend the scope of practice of community pharmacists and the enablers needed to implement that. My Department has been carrying out a comprehensive review of the pharmacy fee structure in the context of this engagement and the intended expansion of the scope of pharmacy practice, following the recommendations of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy.

I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community pharmacists 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.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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262. To ask the Minister for Health the discussions that have taken place surrounding the development of a clear pharmaceutical care policy; the plans he has to introduce same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41973/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise the significant role 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 July 2023, I established the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy. The remit of the Taskforce was to identify and support the delivery of specific objectives, which will serve to align services and practices that can be delivered by pharmacists, and pharmacies, with the needs of the health service and patients.

The Taskforce submitted their interim report to me in October of 2023. Extending the validity of prescriptions, and extension of prescriptions by pharmacists, was recommended by the Expert Taskforce. Officials in my Department, in collaboration with stakeholders, arranged for the implementation of this change, which began earlier this year.

The Taskforce continued to work together until July 2024. In August 2024, I accepted its recommendations and published its final report. This report presents a clear pathway for implementing pharmacist prescribing in Ireland, focusing initially on a Common Conditions Service (CCS), and eventually progressing to full prescribing authority for pharmacists. I have asked officials to examine how best to apply extended models of pharmacist prescribing in an Irish context.

Enabling pharmacists to prescribe for common conditions (often called minor ailments) means pharmacists can provide advice and treat common conditions in the community. This will enable pharmacists to manage common conditions by offering advice, and, when appropriate, prescribing prescription-only medicines through established protocols.

I have established an Implementation Oversight Group which has representation from a number of organisations, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and the Irish Pharmacy Union.

The Implementation Oversight Group will be responsible for ensuring implementation of the common conditions service, development and delivery of training for pharmacists, optimising operational aspects of the service, overseeing the development of the necessary secondary legislation, and preparing and delivering communications to the public and other healthcare providers on these changes. I have asked that this service be put in place by early 2025.

The evolving healthcare landscape in Ireland necessitates innovative approaches to improve access to care. Expansion of the role of pharmacists is an important step forward for our health service. There has been active engagement between Department officials and relevant stakeholders regarding the role that pharmacy and pharmacists play in our health service, and this will continue into the future.