Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2012
494 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the current number of training places available to pharmacy students is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33282/12]
View answer495 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for Health his views on whether a greater clinical focus in pharmacy training would result in more streamlined referral to general practitioners and a more timely identification of health problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33283/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 495 together.
Pharmacists perform an important role in the safe dispensing and use of medicines, including providing advice, information and counselling to patients. As a result, it is essential that pharmacists undergo comprehensive education and training in order to provide the best patient care.
The minimum requirements for the education and training of pharmacists are set out in an EU Directive on the recognition of Professional Qualifications which requires that the pharmacist qualification must consist of a five-year programme of education and training, with a minimum of four years of full-time university-level academic studies and a minimum of six months practical training in either a community or hospital pharmacy.
Currently in Ireland, 3 schools of pharmacy at Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) provide an accredited 4 year pharmacy degree programme. The fifth year of in-service training (the National Pharmacy Internship Programme) is currently delivered as a transitional measure on behalf of the Council of the PSI by the RCSI. Successful students are awarded a Masters degree in Pharmacy and are entitled to apply for registration as a pharmacist. In June 2010 the Council of the PSI decided to move to a 5 year fully integrated programme of education and training in pharmacy. The fully integrated Masters degree will continue to include practical experience of working with patients, carers and other healthcare professionals but these practice experiences will be more clinically focused in order to meet the needs of patients and the health system. In addition, the integrated degree will also facilitate interprofessional education in order to promote collaborative working with GPs and other health professionals.
Practical in-service training is a key aspect of pharmacy education and training. Training placements are provided to pharmacy graduates by pharmacists in community, hospital and industrial practice. I am advised by the PSI that it closely monitors the availability of training placements. There are currently 190 placement opportunities available annually to meet the needs of 170 students. However, the numbers of community and hospital placements have decreased in recent years due to the financial situation.
The pharmacy educational reforms are expected to lead to more streamlined referrals to general practitioners, and ensure that these referrals are more clinically informed to improve patient care. These reforms will commence in 2013 and are intended to ensure that pharmacists can play a critical role in the delivery of future integrated health services in Ireland.
