Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1508. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 14 June 2023, if he will provide an update on the review of fees that pharmacies receive from the State for the state drug payment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37218/23]
View answer1589. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding to a sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37641/23]
View answer1590. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he agrees that additional funding should be available to the HSE primary reimbursement service to compensate pharmacies for the ongoing increase in administration requirements for administrating the community drug schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37642/23]
View answer1592. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the introduction of a community pharmacy, triage-based service, to include a minor ailment scheme and facilitating women with a choice of accessing contraception through a pharmacy on foot of a structured consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37645/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1508, 1589, 1590 and 1592 together.
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 healthcare service reform.
In that regard, various approaches to extending the scope of practice of community pharmacists are being progressed by my Department. The implementation of these necessitates engagement with a range of stakeholders and full consideration of all the relevant legislative and operational issues involved.
The recent establishment of the Expert Taskforce to support the expansion of the role of pharmacists in Ireland is evidence of my commitment to that aim.
The 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.
Constructive engagement between Department officials and the Irish Pharmacy Union has taken place in that regard in recent months, and this engagement is continuing.
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.
