Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 October 2015
82. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland's guidance in relation to the supply of emergency contraception, NorLevo and ellaOne, that pharmacists may refuse to dispense the drug if it lies in contradiction with their moral beliefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36665/15]
View answerThe medicinal products levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate, known as Norlevo and ellaOne respectively, have been reclassified from 'prescription only' to 'pharmacy only' supply for use as emergency contraception in 2011 and 2015.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of the practice and profession of pharmacists, and the operation of pharmacies, in Ireland in the interest of the health, safety and welfare of patients and the public.
As healthcare professionals, practising pharmacists are required to display full technical competence in their chosen profession, behave with probity and integrity and to be accountable in this regard for their actions. These qualities of competence, probity, integrity and accountability, which a pharmacist must demonstrate, are underwritten by a statutory Code of Conduct. All pharmacists must subscribe to this Code.
The Code states that the practice by a pharmacist of his/her profession must be directed toward maintaining and improving the health, well-being, care and safety of the patient. The Code also requires pharmacists to ensure that, in instances where they are unable to provide services to a patient (e.g. in situations where they have a conscientious objection to such a provision), they take reasonable action to ensure those medicines/services are provided and that the patient's care is not jeopardised. In practice, this means facilitating the patient in accessing the information or service required to meet their needs from another pharmacist/pharmacy.
In addition to the Code, the PSI issued two guidance documents to pharmacists:
- 'PSI Guidance for Pharmacists on the Safe Supply of Non-Prescription Medicinal Products Containing Levonorgestrel 1500mcg for Emergency Hormonal Contraception'
- 'PSI Guidance for Pharmacists on the Safe Supply of Non-Prescription Ulipristal Acetate 30mg (ellaOne®) for Emergency Hormonal Contraception'
which provide guidance in fulfilling their professional responsibilities in the supply of these medicines. The guidance documents are reviewed and updated regularly and circulated to the profession. The guidance documents are also available on the PSI website www.thepsi.ie
