Pharmacy In Ireland
PHARMACY SERVICES
Community pharmacists and their staff play a vital role in the primary healthcare system in Ireland. Many people believe that a pharmacist’s job is just to dispense medicines. However, your local pharmacist does a great deal more than meets the eye.
The Healthcare Professional
Your pharmacist is a healthcare professional who can assist you with your health concerns quickly. They can offer you information about treatments, explanations on medication interactions and much more. They will also guide you to other health professionals or community services, if required. Click here to see what your pharmacist does when they receive a prescription.
A range of Health Services
Your pharmacist may offer a range of health services such as:
- Seasonal flu vaccination;
- Blood pressure measurement;
- Cholesterol testing; and
- Smoking cessation service.
Ask your pharmacist about the services they provide. Click here to read more about the pharmacy flu vaccination service.
Click here to find your nearest pharmacy.
Commitment
Pharmacists are committed to delivering a quality, accessible, personal and professional service that puts the patient first.
Results from market research carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes show that the public are happy with their pharmacist and want them to be able to provide more service. The 2017 survey found that:
- 98% of people trust the advice and patient care they receive from the pharmacist;
- 94% trust their pharmacist to recommend the right non-prescription medicine for them;
- 96% are in favour of pharmacists being able to prescribe some medicines for minor ailments; and
- 92% are in favour of pharmacists being able to provide services to improve patient adherence to medicines.
In the future, the IPU hopes that the role of the pharmacist will expand even further. For example, a Pharmacy-based Minor Ailment Scheme would allow medical card patients to receive treatment for common illnesses free of charge directly from their local community pharmacy in a timely manner and without the need for a visit to the GP.
A New Medicines Service would help people who are prescribed a new medicine for certain long-term conditions to manage their condition and to improve their medication adherence through providing clinical support at the outset of taking new medication. A pilot carried out by the IPU showed that adherence increased from 37% to 77% after the intervention and support of a community pharmacist.
YOU CAN SPEAK TO YOUR PHARMACIST IN PRIVATE
Pharmacies are busy places so, if you want to talk to your pharmacist in private, you can use the private consultation area.
REMEMBER
Your pharmacist is a healthcare professional. If you have any questions or concerns, ask your pharmacist first for advice.
Medicine Schemes
HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE
The Health Service Executive manages the ‘General Medical Services’ (GMS) scheme, which helps to pay for your prescription medicines. There are several ways in which the Government in Ireland provides affordable medicines and makes them available.
MEDICAL CARD SCHEME
The Medical Card Scheme provides free primary care, including free GP care, hospital services and medicines. The costs are taken on by the State and the scheme is means tested. However, there is a Prescription Levy of €2.00 per item on medicines, with a cap of €20.00 per month.
DRUGS PAYMENT SCHEME (DPS)
The Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) allows individuals and families who do not hold medical cards to limit the amount they have to spend on prescribed drugs. Under the DPS, no individual or family has to pay more than €134 in any calendar month for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and appliances.
Doctor Only cards is a means-tested scheme and will enable people to obtain free GP care while continuing to pay for their medication.OVER 70S SCHEME
The Over 70s Scheme is means tested and anyone who is eligible and over the age of 70 does not have to pay for healthcare costs.
HIGH-TECH SCHEME
The High-Tech Scheme was introduced to facilitate the supply of certain medicines, e.g. those used in conjunction with chemotherapy, which had previously been supplied primarily in the hospital setting.
LONG TERM ILLNESS (LTI) SCHEME
The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme has been set up to provide access to medicines for persons who suffer from one or more chronic illnesses.
Accredited Colleges
HOW TO BECOME A PHARMACIST
Pharmacists are highly qualified healthcare professionals. Pharmacists must complete extensive education and training, which includes a practical placement under the supervision of a pharmacist, before they can qualify. A new structure for pharmacy students was introduced in September 2015. Click here for further details.
There are three third-level colleges currently accredited by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) to deliver pharmacy degree courses:
