Prescription Extension Scheme

The first recommendation from the Expert Taskforce to support the expansion of the role of Pharmacy to facilitate pharmacist-led prescription extension was set to be implemented on 1 September. This recommendation and associated legislation provide the legal basis for pharmacists to extend the validity of a six-month prescription up to twelve-months.

However, despite over a year of extensive discussions with the Department of Health (DoH) under the statutory three-year review of our fees, as outlined in Section 42(14) of the Public Pay and Pensions Act, and more recently at the DoH’s request regarding the implementation and funding of the Expert Taskforce recommendations, no proposals have been advanced by the DoH to address our pay claim, the sixteen-year pay freeze, or the funding for new services such as the Prescription Extension Scheme.

Last week we wrote to both the Minister for Health (see here) and the DoH (see here) to highlight our key concerns requesting that any new service is postponed until such time as an agreement is reached.

We have yet to receive a response to our letters and concerns raised, therefore our position remains the same as communicated last week.  Substantive progress is required within the ongoing statutory fee review to ensure a sustainable community pharmacy model for the future. It is unreasonable to expect community pharmacy to provide additional services for the state, which carry enhanced responsibility and costs without appropriate remuneration structures in place, which recognise both our vital core role and the envisaged future expanded roles.