IPU Welcomes Expansion of Pharmacy Services

Overwhelming Public Support for Expanding the Role of Pharmacies
  • Good news for patients but progress required on pharmacy resourcing.

 

23 January 2024 The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) said today that the proposed legislation for an enhanced role for pharmacists will be good news for patients when the changes facilitated by legislation are implemented in pharmacies. These new measures will represent a positive step in patient care. The IPU emphasised that these developments will require additional work for pharmacists and will require adequate and appropriate resourcing to be made available. The IPU is calling on the Minister and his officials to table these discussions during the ongoing pay talks with the Department of Health. Unless significant progress in relation to the 16-year pay freeze, tiered fee structure and administrative burden is made, it will be difficult to see how these changes announced today can be implemented.

Under proposals brought to cabinet today by Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, patients will soon be able to access certain medications directly from their pharmacy without the need for a GP visit for a prescription. This should facilitate pharmacists supplying the contraceptive pill through a structured consultation. In addition, to combat the growing problem of medicines shortages, pharmacists will be permitted to substitute medicines that are therapeutic equivalent when a prescribed medication is unavailable.

The IPU has tirelessly advocated on behalf of patients for the introduction of these measures for many years. The extensive knowledge and professional competence of Ireland’s community pharmacists have long been an untapped resource. These service expansions will help support patients to access treatments quicker and easier in their local communities.

Community pharmacies provide a range of services to the state through the community drug schemes and other mechanisms. Where pharmacies are providing critical healthcare services, it is essential that the funding for doing so is fair. The fees the state pays pharmacies for managing patient care have not increased in 16 years. This is unsustainable and unacceptable and must be addressed in tandem with any service expansion and should be reflected in any ongoing discussions with the Department of Health.

 

ENDS