Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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188. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the disposal of used oestrogen gel packaging in pharmacies, many pharmacies will not take this packaging back for safe disposal and those that do, charge a fee; if this has been discussed with an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34675/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Pharmacists play a crucial role delivering many important services to support the health of our communities, offering expert advice, ensuring the safe supply of medicines, and delivering vaccines to the public. They are also among the most accessible healthcare professionals nationwide.

The State (the Department of Health and the HSE) has commenced formal contract negotiations with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), under the agreed Framework of Engagement, published on 23 May 2025 (see www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/publications/framework-of-engagement-between-the-department-of-health-the-health-service-executive-and-the-irish-pharmacy-union/).

The current formal talks include a consideration of fee and service arrangements and related matters, with due regard to the IPU’s role as the representative body for community pharmacists. The intention is to reach an agreement which will support a modernised community pharmacy sector.

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.