Vol. 547 No. 1
630 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the review group he has established to examine pharmacy regulations; the membership of this group; the remit of the group; when he expects to have the group's final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2166/02]
The OECD report on regulatory reform in Ireland was critical of certain restrictions in Irish professions, including the retail pharmaceutical sector. A high-level group has been established to examine the recommendations made in the report. One area addressed by the report was the statutory system for granting community pharmacy contracts. In order to assess and respond to the issues raised by the OECD, I have set up the pharmacy review group, which will report to the high-level group. The group has begun its work under the chairmanship of Dr. Michael Mortell, former President of University College Cork, and it is expected that it will make recommendations to the high level group within 6-12 months.
The terms of reference of the group take account of consumer concerns by requiring it to consult consumer interests widely. As well as a general invitation for public submissions, a wide range of consumer organisations have been specifically invited to make submissions. The terms of reference and membership of the group are, in the context of regulatory reform in Ireland and the vital role played by pharmacies in the health service, to review the pharmacy regulations with a view to:
–facilitating the provision, maintenance and development of a high quality pharmacy service to service recipients;
–maximising the potential to increase competition within the sector with a view to ensuring lower prices and improved services to the consumer as envisaged in the OECD report on regulatory reform in Ireland;
–assessing and responding to the recommendations in the OECD report on restrictions on the location of pharmacies while ensuring, as far as possible, a reasonable spread of pharmacies so that the service is convenient to the consumer;
–assessing and responding to the recommendations in the OECD report on the current restrictions on pharmacists educated in other EU countries with a view to enabling this country to discontinue the derogation incorporated in Article 2.2 of Council Directive 85/433/EEC on the free movement of pharmacists;
–ensuring a high quality pharmacy service in remote and deprived areas, to include an assessment of the dispensing doctor scheme;
–ensuring that the opening hours of pharmacies facilitate consumers and meet all reasonable health needs of the population in its area;
