Vol. 492 No. 6
117 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a community pharmacy contractor agreement was refused for a town (details supplied) in County Mayo based solely on there being two other pharmacies in operation; the validity of this reason in view of the open competitive marketplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14717/98]
The Deputy will be aware that 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 to which an application relates. Under the regulations, an assessment board is established by the chief executive officer to evaluate this matter and to make recommendations accordingly.
I understand the assessment board established by the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board to look at the application recommended that there was not a definite public health need for a community pharmacy in the town. The chief executive officer has informed me that, in view of this recommendation and having considered the needs of the town and the availability of other pharmacies adjacent to the town, she was not satisfied that there was a definite public health need for the supply of community pharmacy services in the town and its catchment area, as required by the regulations.
Article 10 of the regulations provides for appeals by applicants 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 on this ground in writing to me within a period of 21 days, from the date of notification by the chief executive officer. I did not receive an appeal under article 10 of the regulations in this matter.
