Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1118. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if urgent consideration will be given to a matter regarding dispensing fees for pharmacists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35752/23]
View answerThe regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure are set out in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (No. 34 of 2017) and in S.I. No. 639 of 2019, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019, which put the current fee structure in place, with effect from 1 January 2020.
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 comprehensive review. Department officials held a meeting with the Irish Pharmacy Union on 20th June 2023 and a further meeting is scheduled for 26th July 2023.
I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community pharmacists, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. 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.
