Pharmacists from the IPU’s Professional Services, Contracts and Product File Departments were among the attendees at the HSE’s Integrated Healthcare Conference at the Convention Centre in Dublin on 4 September 2025. Themed Empowering People through Transforming Care, the conference featured a vast range of speakers from various healthcare backgrounds across the country. A record 300 theme-inspired poster presentations were on display highlighting the work done by many in the field.
HSE Chair Ciarán Devane, and the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, were among the speakers, and they confirmed to attendees that funds have been ringfenced in the 2026 capital programme for development of the Electronic Health Record. On the looming GP retirement crisis, Minister Carroll MacNeill highlighted community pharmacies as a fantastic resource to improve the capacity of healthcare through the common conditions diagnostic service, citing it as an upcoming and exciting development.
Dr Richard Lewanczuk, Senior Medical Director of Health System Integration at Alberta Health Services, Canada highlighted the importance of integrated healthcare in Alberta. He outlined that a hospital admission is the mostly costly healthcare intervention, the negative impact loneliness has on the general health of the population, and how community engagement and services can improve patient health outcomes.
Sessions throughout the event featured a multitude of guest speakers including Regional Executive Officers (REOs) who are leaders in Sláintecare implementation. On urgent and emergency care, Andy Philips, REO for HSE South West, highlighted that, “the best offsite beds are in patient homes”, emphasising care beyond hospital walls where community pharmacies play a significant role. Discussions on the needs of older adults, he outlined the ‘4 Ms’ of quality care — What Matters, Medication, Mind and Mobility, underscoring areas where pharmacists could have further impact in developing an Age-Friendly Health system. Mention was also made of two MABs now licensed, under strict criteria, for the treatment of early-stage dementia. While 30 per cent of the population may be potentially eligible, only seven to 10 per cent will meet the full criteria, with Health Technology Assessments being planned for the treatments.
The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD delivered the final address and presented awards to poster winners from each health region. Ciara Kirke, Clinical Lead of Medication Safety, HSE Quality Improvement Division, and colleagues from the National Medication Safety Programme were awarded for their poster Safety and Savings: Economic analysis of pharmacist-led person-centred medicines reviews in General Practice, for the HSE West and North West region. Their work demonstrated the cost benefits of integrating pharmacists into GP practices, improving medication appropriateness and clinical outcomes. This poster encapsulates the vital role of pharmacists as medication experts.
The conference provided exciting insights for revolutionising the healthcare system in Ireland, while also proving that many opportunities remain for the pharmacy profession to be fully integrated and optimised.
Image 1: Sinéad McCool, Yasmin Aminou (APPEL student), IPU Professional Services; Noelle Horan, Tara Kelly, IPU Product File.
Image 2: Minister for Health Jennifer Caroll MacNeill TD interviewed by Bryan Dobson
Image 3: Poster presentations on display at the conference.
Image 4: Taoiseach Micheál Martin delivering the final address.
Yasmin Aminou
Pharmacy Student
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