Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 October 2019
173. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if he will honour the commitment he made at a conference (details supplied) to expand the role of community pharmacies to include the full and immediate national roll-out of a minor ailments scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42466/19]
View answer174. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the expansion of community pharmacy services to include a minor ailments scheme and the provision of chronic disease management services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42467/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.
I value the role pharmacists play in the Irish health service. As you are aware, the Programme for a Partnership Government and the Sláintecare implementation strategy contain commitments to expanding the role of community pharmacy in managing patient health in the community.
Work has been done in recent years on wider healthcare roles for pharmacies, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland’s Future Pharmacy report, on the expansion of professional pharmacy practice. It is clear from this and other work that there is potential to increase the range of both private and publicly funded health services delivered through community pharmacy. Important new services, such as influenza vaccination and emergency contraception, have already been introduced.
To be funded by the taxpayer, new public health services in community pharmacy, as elsewhere, should improve health outcomes and provide value for money and benefits for patients. Any new or transferred services should be based on sound evidence, with matching improvements in governance and administration.
I recently met with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) when these and other issues were discussed. My officials will be engaging with the IPU on new fee regulations before the end of the year and the intention is to broaden the discussions to contractual and service arrangements during 2020.
