Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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764. To ask the Minister for Health to detail the methods through which a general practitioner can issue a prescription to a patient; if a patient can insist the prescription is issued in written form and not via email directly to the pharmacy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27544/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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GPs are private practitioners, and the method used for issuing prescriptions is a matter for the individual GP or GP practice to determine.

Currently, prescriptions written by Irish registered prescribers practicing in Ireland are valid if they’re presented in paper format or received through Healthmail.

Healthmail is a secure clinical email service that allows health care providers to send and receive clinical patient information in a secure manner. The service is provided by the Primary Care Directorate of the HSE and is managed by eHealth Ireland and supported by the ICGP and the Irish Pharmacy Union.

Patients are entitled to ask for a paper copy from their prescriber or from their pharmacy if they wish. It is important to note that a paper copy of a prescription issued via Healthmail can be kept for the patients records and does not function as a valid prescription under existing legislation.