David Cullinane
Question:132. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the tasks a pharmaceutical assistant may not perform during their temporary absence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39155/18]
View answerThursday, 27 September 2018
Questions (132)
Written answers
A clinical governance framework governing the operation of registered Retail Pharmacy Businesses is created by Sections 26, 27, 28 and 29 of the Pharmacy Act 2007, and Regulations made under Section 18 of the Act further elucidate the specific responsibilities of the pharmacy owner, the superintendent pharmacist, the supervising pharmacist and the registered pharmacist.
Under 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.
Section 30 (2) (a) provides for what may or may not be done by a registered pharmaceutical assistant when acting on behalf of a registered pharmacist in his/her temporary absence.
I understand that the proposed draft Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018 rules allow for the Council to approve and publish a professional task list; this task list has not yet been defined by the Council. The draft Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018 were approved by the PSI Council on September 20th and have yet to be submitted for my consent as required by the Act.
The current activity of a pharmaceutical assistant when providing skilled assistance to a pharmacist, is subject to the governance mechanisms instituted by each superintendent pharmacist in the pharmacy practice which determines the parameters of the professional activity undertaken.
Legislation precludes pharmaceutical assistants from providing vaccinations to patients, or from undertaking the governance roles provided for in the Pharmacy Act 2007 (supervising and superintendent pharmacists) when operating in the temporary absence of the pharmacist.