Michael McNamara
Question:203. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health to outline his meetings and those of his Department, respectively, with community pharmacists and their representatives to date in 2023. [30046/23]
View answerWednesday, 21 June 2023
Questions (203)
Written answers
Under Section 42(14) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 the pharmacy fee structure must be reviewed every third year after 2020. My Department is currently carrying out a review and Department officials have arranged to meet with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) on 20th June 2023 in that regard.
Department officials held meetings this year with the IPU in relation to the free contraception scheme for women aged 17 -25, which was launched on 14th September, 2022, and extended to 26 year old women from 1st January 2023.
Department officials also met with the IPU and with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) to discuss Third Country Qualifying Route and Delineation of Retail Pharmacy Business vs Retail Areas. Officials also met with the PSI separately to discuss Workforce Planning.
A meeting was also held this year between Department officials and the IPU in relation to medicines shortages and the Windsor framework.