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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 3

Written Answers. - Pharmacy Services.

Michael Ring

Question:

304 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will review the Western Health Board's decision not to go ahead with the establishment of a community pharmacy in Knock, County Mayo, in view of the fact that the nearest town with a chemist is over six and a half miles away. [12173/98]

The criteria and procedures under which the chief executive officer of a health board shall determine the issue of new community pharmacy contractor agreements are specified in the Health (Community Pharmacy Contractor Agreement) Regulations, 1996. Before granting an agreement the chief executive officer must be satisfied that there is a definite public health need, as defined in the regulations, for the supply of community pharmacy services in the particular catchment area. Under the regulations, an assessment board is established by the chief executive officer to evaluate this matter and to make recommendations accordingly.

I made inquiries with the Western Health Board and I understand that on foot of an application for a community pharmacy contractor agreement in Knock last year, the assessment board established to look at this matter recommended that there was not a definite public health need for a community pharmacy in Knock. The chief executive officer subsequently informed the applicants by letter on 19 February 1998 that, further to the assessment board's recommendation and examination of the applications, a pharmacy contract could not be granted. I should add that where an application has been refused by a chief executive officer on grounds that a definite public health need has not been established, an applicant may appeal in writing to me, under article 10 of the regulations, within a period of twenty one days from the date of notification by the chief executive officer. However, I did not receive any appeal from the applicants following communication of the chief executive officer's decision.

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