Irish Pharmacists Strongly Welcome the Launch of the Common Conditions Service

New service will improve access to healthcare by delivering timely care and treatment close to home.

IPU, Monday 26 January 2025: The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has welcomed the launch of the Department of Health’s campaign to raise awareness about the new Common Conditions Service (CCS) currently being rolled out through pharmacies.

The CCS, which was a key part of the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025, will further enable patients to receive advice and treatment for common conditions in pharmacies. Pharmacists will now have the ability to prescribe certain prescription-only medicines for a range of 8 common conditions through established clinical protocols.

Community pharmacies across the country will begin offering the services in the coming weeks, with 94% of pharmacies now opted in to deliver the service.

Welcoming the launch the IPU’s Head of Professional Services, Susan O’ Dwyer said, “The Common Conditions Service is a significant milestone in pharmacy care in Ireland and one that the IPU has been advocating for over many years. As medicine experts, pharmacists have long sought the opportunity to use their expertise in new ways to help patients.

“Each day in pharmacies across Ireland patients present with common self-limiting conditions, where pharmacists have the clinical knowledge to support with their management but, until now, lacked the authority to prescribe certain prescription only medications to support with treatment.

“The CCS will change that, enabling pharmacists to deliver timely care and treatment, for 8 common conditions. Participating community pharmacists are looking forward to helping patients get the support they need via this private and confidential community pharmacy service.”

ENDS

Note for Editors:

The Common Conditions Service is a service that allows community pharmacists to prescribe for eight common conditions after a consultation. These conditions include allergic rhinitis, cold sores, conjunctivitis, impetigo, oral thrush, shingles, uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), and vulvovaginal thrush.