Department of Health Expert Taskforce
Expert Taskforce to Support Expansion of Pharmacists Roles
Launch of the report of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy
The report of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy was published on 13 August 2024. Please click here to access the full report.
A note to members in response to the report is available here.
A copy of the IPU press release can be found here.
A copy of the Department of Health Press Release can be found here.
A copy of the letter to the Department of Health can be found here.
Copies of the letters sent to the Minister for Health and the Department of Health are available here.
A copy of the Pharmacy Team Engagement Resource is available here.
This report, arising from the work of the Expert Taskforce, presents a pathway for implementing Pharmacist prescribing in Ireland, focusing initially on a Common Conditions Service (CCS) and eventually progressing to full prescribing authority for pharmacists.
The overarching recommendations of the Expert Taskforce are as follows:
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That pharmacists be enabled to exercise independent, autonomous prescriptive authority within and related to the individuals scope of practice and competence
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This should be implemented in a stepwise manner commencing with the introduction of a Common Conditions Service, with pharmacists provided with prescriptive authority linked to the service and its parameters
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The development, over the coming years, of models of pharmacist prescribing within primary and secondary care settings, recognising the requirements for specific enablers
The Minister for Health has announced that he is setting up an Expert Taskforce to support the expansion of the role of pharmacists in Ireland.
The Taskforce will examine how pharmacists can be enabled to operate at the top of their licence for the benefit of patients and the wider health service. It will initially be requested to consider options to establish a formal mechanism and framework to enable pharmacists to extend prescriptions for a range of medicines and medical conditions where appropriate. The Taskforce will also advise on a comprehensive approach to facilitate pharmacist prescribing. This will include, but not be limited to, empowering pharmacists to assess and prescribe for common minor ailments within a community pharmacy setting.
"Pharmacists are highly trained, valued healthcare professionals who already use their extensive training and expertise in medicines to help people every day. They were tremendous partners during the recent COVID-19 pandemic and made a hugely positive contribution to our vaccination programme."
"Empowering pharmacists to use their expertise to assess and treat certain ailments will help patients get the care they need sooner and closer to home – but the benefits go much further. It can help reduce demand on hospitals, walk-in clinics and GP practices."
While we welcome the announcement, our position clearly remains that our concerns regarding pay restoration need to be addressed as part of the process.
Recommendation One Nov 2023
Prescription Extension March 2024
Taskforce Chair
Dr Pat O’Mahony
Dr. Pat O’Mahony, formerly CEO of the HPRA and a former Deputy Secretary General at the Department of Health, Pat was also Chairman of the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency. Pat is currently Chair of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and of the Irish Medicines Verification Organisation (IMVO), and the former CEO of Clinical Research Development Ireland (CRDI).
Taskforce Members
Prof. Michael Barry
Prof. Michael Barry is a consultant Clinical Pharmacologist and Head of the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of Dublin, Trinity College. He is the Clinical Director of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.
Pat Healy
Pat Healy is the National Director of Clinical Programme Implementation and Professional Development in the HSE.
Keith Hourihane
Keith Hourihane is a Community Pharmacist and an adjunct Clinical Lecturer in UCC School of Pharmacy.
Joanne Kissane
Joanne Kissane is a pharmacist and the Registrar and Chief Officer of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, The Pharmacy Regulator.
Kate Mulvenna
Kate Mulvenna is a pharmacist and formerly the Chief Pharmacist for the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in the HSE.
Prof. Caitriona O’Driscoll
Prof. Caitriona O’Driscoll is Professor and Chair of Pharmaceutics in the School of Pharmacy, University College Cork.
Louisa Power
Louisa Power is a pharmacist and a Medication Safety Specialist with the National Quality and Patient Safety Directorate of the HSE.
Dr Diarmuid Quinlan
Dr. Diarmuid Quinlan is a GP and Medical Director of the Irish College of General Practitioners.
Prof. Judith Strawbridge
Prof. Judith Strawbridge is Deputy Head (Education) of the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
Kevin Ward
Kevin Warren is the Principal Officer in the Medicines, Controlled Drugs and Pharmacy Legislation Unit of the Department of Health who replaced Anne-Marie Seymour Principal Officer in the Medicines, Controlled Drugs and Pharmacy Legislation Unit of the Department of Health in January 2024
Mr Laurence O’Dwyer
Mr Laurence O’Dwyer is a Pharmacist and the Scientific Affairs Manager in the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
Tamasine Grimes
Dr Tamasine Grimes is Associate Professor in Practice of Pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Trinity College Dublin and is a practicing pharmacist.
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