What is happening?

New legislation has now been introduced to enable electronic record keeping in community pharmacy. A change that, while practical in nature, marks an important step forward for the profession. In practical terms, this means that prescriptions transmitted via the national electronic prescription transfer system (i.e. Healthmail and the High Tech Hub) will be able to be retained in electronic form, removing the requirement to print them in defined circumstances. The legislation comprises three key amendments:

• Medicinal Products Regulations: Enabling prescriptions to be retained electronically and setting out requirements for endorsement and record keeping;
• Misuse of Drugs Regulations: Extending similar provisions to controlled drugs, including the option for electronic controlled drug registers; and
• Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations: Setting out requirements for record keeping, audit, and inspection in an electronic environment.

Taken together, these changes provide a clear legal basis for moving away from paper-based processes while maintaining appropriate safeguards.  

The background

Administrative reform, including electronic record keeping, has been a consistent focus for the IPU over a number of years. It was set out clearly in the IPU White Paper (2024), which identified the need to reduce unnecessary administrative burden and modernise pharmacy systems. This was further progressed through the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025, where administrative reform was established as a core pillar, with electronic record keeping identified as a priority measure. This latest development represents a tangible step in delivering on that commitment.  

A collaborative approach

Following this, the Department of Health and the PSI moved quickly to establish the Electronic Record Keeping Implementation Group (ERKIG). The ERKIG brought together representatives from the Department of Health, the HSE (including PCRS), the PSI, the IPU, pharmacists, and patient representatives. Its role was to ensure that any proposed changes would be practical, workable, and grounded in real-world pharmacy practice. A key part of this work was the Proof of Concept (PoC), which tested how electronic record keeping would operate across different pharmacy systems and workflows. This proved to be a particularly valuable step. It allowed policymakers, regulators, vendors and pharmacy teams to work together to test and refine the approach before legislation was finalised. This level of collaboration is not always seen and has been instrumental in shaping a solution that works in practice.  

The resulting legislation

The legislation reflects the practical, collaborative approach taken throughout its development. It enables pharmacies to retain prescriptions electronically, provided certain requirements are met, including:

• Appropriate endorsement of prescriptions;
• Secure record keeping;
• Auditability and traceability; and
• Availability of records for inspection.

While much of the focus is on electronic prescription record keeping, the legislation also introduces important changes to other areas of pharmacy record keeping. It provides for the use of electronic controlled drug registers, replacing the current requirement for bound-book paper registers. Pharmacies will soon be able to use electronic systems for this purpose, and a number of solutions are already available in the market. Further information on this will be provided in due course. Changes to the electronic prescription register (daily audit report) also mean that pharmacies will no longer be required to print and sign a paper record each day, where records are maintained electronically in line with the legislation. Taken together, these measures form part of a broader shift towards fully digital record keeping in pharmacy.  

Implementation — what happens next?

The legislation comes into effect on 30 June 2026. However, pharmacies will not be able to fully adopt electronic record keeping until pharmacy system vendors have implemented the necessary updates to their systems. In the meantime, existing requirements, including printing of Healthmail prescriptions, will continue. The next phase will involve system updates and a transition period as pharmacies begin to adopt electronic record keeping in practice.  

A significant step and a change for pharmacy

This is a significant and very welcome development for community pharmacy. Reducing reliance on paper will bring clear benefits, including:

• Less administrative burden;
• Reduced printing, storage and associated costs; and
• More efficient workflows.

At the same time, this represents a real change in how pharmacies operate. Moving to fully electronic processes will require adjustment in workflows and day-to-day practices. That change is both necessary and timely. It will help prepare pharmacy teams for further developments in eHealth, including national electronic prescribing and more connected healthcare systems. Electronic record keeping represents more than a technical change. It is a practical and important step in modernising pharmacy practice, reducing administrative burden, and preparing the sector for the next phase of digital healthcare.  

How the IPU will support members

The IPU recognises that this change will require support at pharmacy level. We will be developing a range of supports to assist members in adopting electronic record keeping, including:

• Guidance on implementation;
• Practical resources to support digital workflows; and
• Ongoing engagement with system vendors and stakeholders.

We will continue to support members throughout this transition and ensure that the move towards digital practices is practical, manageable, and beneficial for community pharmacy.