Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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404. To ask the Minister for Health the status of plans to have pharmacists prescribe for common conditions; the timeline she is working towards for implementing this recommendation from a group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33326/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am a huge advocate for the reform and expansion of pharmacy services. The findings and recommendations from the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy provide an important framework to inform the reforms and developments required to deliver expanded pharmacy services. My vision for the future includes pharmacists playing a much larger role in our health service, and I’m happy to see the progress being made by my Department to facilitate this.

The next key step in the reform of community pharmacy is the development and introduction of a Common Conditions Service. This service will be the first step in enabling full independent pharmacist prescribing. It will allow pharmacists in Ireland to treat the public for common conditions such as shingles, urinary tract infections, and conjunctivitis.

The development of the service is well under way, and the Community Pharmacy Expansion Implementation Oversight Group (IOG) continues to meet monthly to finalise the clinical protocols, education and training for pharmacists, a package of required regulations, and operational aspects of the service.

I am confident that we will see the beginning of this service available in Irish communities within 2025.