Written Answers Nos. 425-437
425. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health his views that the shortage of qualified pharmacists to work in retail pharmacies is a critical skill shortage; the steps that will be taken to speed up the process in registering EU and non-EU pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21723/22]
View answerMy department has liaised with the PSI on this matter. The PSI is not involved in the recruitment of pharmacists. However, as the pharmacy regulator, it is appropriate for PSI to examine the topic of pharmacist workforce. They are aware through their work and through reports from stakeholders, of an increasing risk to the continued availability of a pharmacist workforce, with the concern being that the issue may be exacerbated into the future. In response, the PSI is undertaking a project, due to run across 2022-’23, ‘Emerging Risks to the Future Pharmacy Workforce’. In 2022, this project is set to “assess emerging risks to the continued availability of a professional pharmacy workforce within community and hospital pharmacy in Ireland”.
This is a complex problem with many contributing factors and multiple stakeholders. Workforce challenges are being experienced in other sectors nationally, and in the pharmacy sector in a range of other countries. However, robust data for Ireland is needed to be able to determine the current landscape, assess future health system needs and understand existing sectoral challenges now and into the future. It will be on the basis of gathering and analysing this up-to-date, robust and relevant data, that recommendations can be proposed to address Ireland’s needs for a pharmacist workforce in the future, as Ireland’s healthcare system evolves, and in the context of Sláintecare implementation.
The number of registered pharmacists on the Register of Pharmacists held and maintained by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the pharmacy regulator has continued to grow steadily, with an average increase of 187 registrants each year over the past five years. 6846 pharmacists are currently registered with the PSI, under established processes based in Irish and EU law.
The processes underpinning the qualification recognition and registration in respect of EU-qualified and non-EU qualified, have defined timeframes.
- EU Route:
The legislative timeframes regarding qualification recognition for EU applicants are as follows:
- The European Professional Card (EPC) applications which are made via the IMI system have to be processed by the PSI, the competent authority for the purposes of the Professional Qualifications Directive, within 4 weeks. The legislation sets a tacit recognition date at 4 weeks from date application sent/accepted by the PSI. This date can be extended by 2 two week periods in the event of queries arising but the maximum period of time allowed under this method application is two months in total to process an application via the IMI system.
- If an application is made outside of the IMI system, the Professional Qualifications Directive has set a maximum timeframe of 3 months for the qualification recognition process to have been completed from the date of receipt of a valid application (i.e. all documentation having been received from and on behalf of the applicant) for applications benefitting from automatic recognition, and 4 months for applications subject to an individual assessment under the General System.
However, the Department understands that where an EU applicant presents the PSI with the required documentation for the purposes of qualification recognition and registration, the PSI generally completes the process well within the legislative timeframes.
- Non-EU Route (TCQR):
The current process comprises several stages. The regulator is currently undertaking a project to overhaul this route and to streamline it as much as possible, with the aim of having an improved TCQR route in place for January 2023. Notwithstanding any changes that may be implemented, the Department appreciates that the PSI must be able to verify the minimum standards required in order for an applicant to progress to registration, to be in a position to practise in a sector delivering irreversible patient care and treatment, in Ireland.
426. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health If consideration will be given to permitting retail pharmacies to sell non-prescription medication without the presence of a qualified pharmacist on the premises thus allowing the public to access some medications at the weekend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21724/22]
View answerThe Pharmacy Act 2007 specifies that the sale and supply of medicinal products is carried out under the personal supervision of a registered pharmacist. This is a safety requirement and ensures that patients and the public are provided with a safe pharmacy service at all times. Pharmacists must be available to provide expert advice to patients on medication management and particularly to patients who may be considering using non-prescription medicines while also taking complex prescription-only medicines.
427. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if a new pathway for experienced pharmacy technicians to become fully qualified pharmacists will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21726/22]
View answerAlthough subject to professional regulation, pharmacy education and training is provided within the wider context of higher education and so is subject both to national and EU-wide requirements. Minimum requirements in relation to the education and training of pharmacists are set out in the Professional Qualifications Directive (EU Directive 2005/36/EC, as amended by EU Directive 2013/55/EU for Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications). Pharmacy education in Ireland is also compliant with the educational standards of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and therefore is also compliant with the requirements of the Bologna Process.
The five-year pharmacist qualification is an accredited five-year fully integrated Master’s degree programme in pharmacy. On successful completion of the five-year programme, graduates are then eligible to apply to the PSI for registration.
Pharmacy technicians play an important role in many pharmacies, supporting the operation of the pharmacy and the work of pharmacists and make a valuable contribution to pharmacy service delivery. In Ireland however, there is no definition of “pharmacy technician” in legislation, and technicians are not subject to a statutory professional regulatory regime, nor is the qualification standardised across the various providers of pharmacy technician education and training. The Department understands that PSI is supportive of Schools of Pharmacy in the Irish higher education system should they wish to consider other relevant qualifications and prior experience as part of their entry requirements to the five-year MPharm, with the appropriate level of rigour and assessment, and are aware of one School of Pharmacy who make provision for up to two places each year being made available for pharmacy technicians for entry to the MPharm programme.
428. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to end mixed-gender wards across public hospitals in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21731/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
429. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to ensure medical card patients in County Roscommon can gain access to dental treatment; the options available to medical card patients in cases in which dentists in a county are not taking on such patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21732/22]
View answerI have acknowledged immediate issues of concern with the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTTS), which I am addressing as a matter of priority. Officials from my Department and from the HSE have held three rounds of discussions with the Irish Dental Association, the most recent on 2nd March when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the DTTS.
Following consultation with the IDA on 2nd March I have now given approval for significant fee increases to be paid to contracted dentists across a number of items, including the Dental Examination and Fillings in the hope that more dentists will see more medical card patients. I have also approved the reintroduction of Scale and Polish for medical card patients on the DTSS. These new measures are designed to address access problems for patients, and address dentist’s concerns about the viability of the DTSS, while aligning the DTSS more closely with the Dental Treatment Benefits Scheme, which is widely operated by private dentists for PRSI patients.
These measures should amount to an additional investment this year of about €26 million over what was spent on the Scheme in 2021. My Department and the HSE will work together to quickly implement the changes in the Scheme for the benefit of patients.
430. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will include persons (details supplied) in the north Kerry CAMHS review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21736/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
431. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a child (details supplied) who has been waiting five years for a consultation at the urology clinic at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21738/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
432. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be eligible for the Covid-19 bonus payment of €1,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21740/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
To recognise their unique role during the pandemic, the Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers. Eligibility guidelines for this payment, as applies in HSE and Section 38 organisations, were published by the HSE on 19th April and are available at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html.
Separately, the Department of Health shall shortly publish information for those other certain healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in the HSE;
- Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which the above frontline healthcare workers faced. In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. From February next year there will also be a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.
Outside of the above recognition measures, the Government also notes that some private sector healthcare employers have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. The Government would encourage private sector healthcare employers that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
While you will appreciate that the Department is not in a position to comment on individual cases, I trust that the above clarifies the position.
433. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay for a person (details supplied) to be sent to the Netherlands for treatment for second line cancer therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21757/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
434. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of dispensing doctors in Ireland from 2017 to 2021, inclusive; the number who are located in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21758/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
435. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for a motorised chair for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21781/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
436. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a child (details supplied) with epilepsy who has been waiting three years for a test at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21783/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
437. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of primary medical certificate applications that are currently submitted awaiting assessment; the expected length of time to clear the backlog; the length of time applicants can expect to wait for a decision on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21789/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
