Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
1322. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will fully consider the allocation of sufficient funds to support future service delivery in the community pharmacy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12934/23]
View answer1324. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will give due consideration to the additional workload placed on community pharmacists in managing medicine shortages when reviewing their dispensing fee (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12936/23]
View answer1325. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that community pharmacists, as essential members of the primary care team, are totally integrated and embedded into community health networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12938/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1322, 1324 and 1325 together.
As Minister for Health, I recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of health service reform. Their participation in the national COVID-19 vaccination rollout – the largest ever undertaken by the State – and in the recently launched free contraception scheme are examples of the importance of their role in the functioning of our health service.
The current fees payable to contracted community pharmacists under the community drug schemes are set out in Statutory Instrument no. 639 of 2019. These regulations were made under Section 42 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.
Subsection (14) therein requires that a review of the operation, effectiveness and impact of the fees set in that regulation be undertaken in 2023. This review must consider the appropriateness of the fees set, having regard to any change of circumstances and any alteration of the matters set out in subsection (10) therein, including the following:
- the nature of the services rendered by different classes of service providers and the general nature of expenses and commitments of the service providers providing those services.
- the obligation on the part of the State to have a prudent fiscal policy under the Stability and Growth Pact and the Fiscal Compact.
In conducting the review, the Department will be cognisant of proposals regarding extending the scope of practice offered by community pharmacists, ensuring that future healthcare expenditure under the community drug schemes is sustainable, and the role that community pharmacy should play in the reform of health service delivery as envisaged in Sláintecare. On this latter point, it is imperative that community pharmacists are recognised as an integral part of the delivery of both safe and efficient patient health care in the community.
Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.
