Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
651. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether the group considering expanding the role of community pharmacists has reported to him; and if he is considering increasing the fees for existing work or introducing funding for new activities, which could see improvements in service. [2934/24]
View answerOn 24th July 2023, as Minister for Health, I established an Expert Taskforce to support the expansion of the role of Pharmacy in Ireland. The remit of the Taskforce is to identify and support the delivery of specific objectives, which will serve to align services and practices that can be delivered by pharmacists, and pharmacies, with the needs of the health service and patients. The Taskforce comprises 13 individuals who each bring the specific expertise, perspective and competence needed to provide a holistic overview of the actions required to optimise the expansion of health service provision through pharmacy and pharmacists.
The Expert Taskforce reported to me at the end of October 2023 regarding recommendations from Phase 1 of their terms of reference - Empowering Pharmacists to Extend Prescriptions. The main recommendation that has transpired from Phase 1 is that the legal validity of prescriptions should be extended to a maximum of 12 months. The potential need for engagement with the healthcare provider at an early point is recognised and to this end, pharmacists should be given the authority to extend prescriptions up to a maximum of 12 months duration. Work is ongoing within the Department and amongst stakeholders to implement this recommendation into practice.
Engagement with relevant stakeholders is ongoing to ensure that all operational issues involved, included any contract enablers needed, are in place.
The Expert Taskforce are currently working on Phase 2, working towards “Empowering Pharmacists to Prescribe within their scope of Practice”. The Expert taskforce will report to me on this phase of their work in the coming months.
