Community Pharmacies: Supporting Women’s Health on International Women’s Day

IPU Friday 7 March 2025: This International Women’s Day (8 March), community pharmacies across Ireland reaffirm their commitment to immediate, expert, and personalised healthcare for women in every community. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals in Ireland, providing trusted advice and essential treatments ensuring women receive the education, support, and care they need to lead healthier lives.

According to Susan O’Dwyer, the IPU’s Head of Professional Services, “Women often face challenges in accessing healthcare due to time constraints, affordability, or lack of awareness about available resources. Community pharmacies address these concerns by offering convenient services that usually do not require an appointment. From emergency and ongoing contraception services to cardiovascular risk assessment and menopause support, pharmacists provide expert guidance tailored to every stage of a woman’s life.”

Safe Pharmacy

Beyond providing essential healthcare services, community pharmacies also serve as a vital support network for women facing dangerous situations, including domestic abuse. Across Ireland, more than 1,000 ‘Safe Pharmacies’ provide a crucial support to women experiencing domestic abuse and/or coercive control by offering a secure, discreet place to seek help and support from local services.

Ms. O’Dwyer highlighted the importance of these initiatives, stating, “Unfortunately, violence against women and girls remains a serious issue in our society. For those in domestic abuse and coercive control situations, accessing support services can be challenging, particularly as phones and general movements are often monitored. With pharmacies located in every town in Ireland, they provide a discrete and accessible location for anyone in need of support. No woman should suffer in silence. Safe Pharmacies are in every community, ready to provide support when it is needed most.”

Ms. O’Dwyer concluded, “Community pharmacies are at the heart of local healthcare, providing women with immediate access to expert advice, essential health services, and preventative care. This International Women’s Day, as we reaffirm our dedication to supporting women’s health, we urge every woman to make her health a priority—because support, advice, and expert care are just a pharmacy visit away.”

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