Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
1331. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will allow community pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives without the need for a prescription, in line with WHO best practice; if not, the reason for continuing this barrier to accessing oral contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12986/23]
View answerThe free contraception scheme for women was launched in September 2022, and is currently open to women aged 17-26 who are ordinarily resident in Ireland. The scheme will be expanded further, in September, to include women aged 30 and under. Funding through Budget 2023 was also allocated to expand the scheme to 16 year-olds, but this is subject to consultation across Government, legal advice and legislative amendment.
Over 2,200 GPs and 1,850 pharmacies have signed up to provide products and services under the scheme to date. The role of pharmacists currently involves dispensing prescription contraception prescribed for individuals by a medical practitioner, typically their GP or family planning clinic.
Some forms of contraception, most commonly the progesterone only Pill, but also in certain circumstances, a combined hormonal contraceptive (the “combined” Pill) are available through pharmacies, without the need for a prescription, in other jurisdictions. Providing some services in this manner in Ireland may improve access to contraception for women. Work on developing potential options for an enhanced role for pharmacists in relation to the provision of contraception is ongoing.
In Ireland at present, accessing oral contraceptives is regulated and requires a prescription from a medical practitioner in accordance with the requirements of the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended. These regulations apply a comprehensive system of control to medicinal products and identify those products which may only be supplied on medical prescription, and also specify the circumstances excluding medicinal products from prescription-only control. Schedule 8 to the regulations lists those medicinal products which may be supplied and administered by pharmacists pursuant to regulation 4B, where that pharmacist has completed approved training regarding the administration of such products and the management of any adverse reaction. In order to enable pharmacists to supply the specified products alluded to in your question without the need for a prescription, detailed clinical consideration is required in the first instance to ensure that various patient safety issues are fully respected.
Following previous engagement with representative groups, my officials at my direction, are currently engaged in a process, which includes obtaining recommendations from relevant clinical experts within the HSE as to the clinical appropriateness of making some forms of currently prescription controlled contraception, available through pharmacies without the need for a prescription. This process is ongoing.
Thereafter, and with due consideration of the policy position adopted and underpinned by appropriate clinical recommendations and advice, the modality of giving effect to this decision will be considered. Any mechanism introducing this change, or indeed giving effect in a given instance to any other policy decision, must be robust, appropriate in the given context, and legally sound.
