Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:143. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to expand the scope of practice for pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28622/23]
View answerWednesday, 14 June 2023
Questions (143)
Written answers
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. The use of the appropriate medication at the right time in the right way is one of the most effective health care interventions available, and empowers patients to live healthier lives.
The optimisation of the practice of pharmacy, and the provision of pharmaceutical care has the potential to enhance patient benefit and outcomes, and to potentially assist in alleviating the pressure on primary care practitioners.
A number of proposals and ways to potentially enhance the scope of practice of community pharmacists in the short, medium and longer term are currently being considered within my Department.
A proposal for the implementation of a Minor Ailment Scheme will see a scheme put in place where eligible patients will attend their local community pharmacist for assessment and treatment for a number of identified ailments, rather than first initially having to attend their GP to obtain a prescription to access over-the-counter medicines currently on the PCRS reimbursement list. The HSE have established a Minor Ailments Working Group to consider what is required from a clinical and operational perspective including the development of appropriate protocols. The range of conditions to be included in such a scheme is being finalised.
The 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. Work has commenced on evolving options for an enhanced role for pharmacists in the scheme, with considerations encompassing issues such as legal basis, training administrative and governance matters.
Realisation of this ambition will not be without challenges, and paramount to this will be the availability of the appropriate workforce to deliver on the services envisaged. The Emerging Risks to Pharmacy Workforce project, a multi-annual project commenced by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to assess emerging risks to the continued availability of a professional pharmacy workforce within community and hospital pharmacy in Ireland will be relevant. The Department sits on the Group and has been actively involved in the work to date, and a report and suite of recommendations are being finalised and due to be published later in June.
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.
I hope the above information is useful to you.