Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 September 2018
130. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the definition of temporary absence arrived at by an organisation (details supplied) with the permission of his Department in the case of pharmaceutical assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39153/18]
View answerUnder the Pharmacy Act 2007 the sale and supply of medicinal products must be carried out by or under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist at all times. Section 30 of the Act allows however for an exceptional circumstance where a registered pharmaceutical assistant may act on behalf of a registered pharmacist during the temporary absence of the registered pharmacist.
In the circumstances provided for in Section 30 of the Act the PSI, subject to the consent of the Minister, may define for how long a pharmacist may be temporarily absent from a pharmacy and what may be done in this absence in circumstances where a registered pharmaceutical assistant acts in the temporary absence.
On Thursday, 20th September 2018, the Council of the PSI, the pharmacy regulator, approved proposed draft rules regarding the length of time that it is permissible for a pharmacy to operate in the absence of a pharmacist.
I understand that the draft statutory rules– Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of a Pharmacist from a pharmacy) Rules 2018– propose that a pharmacist may be absent from a pharmacy for a total one hour per day only, and in these circumstances a registered pharmaceutical assistant may act in the temporary absence of the pharmacist.
Although the draft rules as approved by the Council rules are publically available, under the Act I, as Minister, must await the receipt of the Rules for my consideration from the PSI and until that time I am unfortunately not in a position to discuss the matter raised any further.
