Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2024
50. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason a chief pharmaceutical officer has yet to be appointed; if he will support such an appointment considering the consistent shortage in various medicines worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19398/24]
View answerI want to thank the deputy for their question.
The pharmacy profession is an important part of the healthcare service. Pharmacists working across primary and secondary care heavily contribute to the safe supply of medicines, amongst their other roles. I believe pharmacists can do more in our healthcare service.
As you will be aware, in July 2023, I established the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy with the aim of identifying and supporting 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.
This Taskforce has been very successful so far. The first report and set of recommendations were published in early November 2023, with the Taskforce recommending a change to the maximum validity of prescriptions. A prescriber is now empowered to write a prescription for 12 months, if they feel it is appropriate for their patient. From September, for prescriptions written after March 1st , 2024, pharmacists will be enabled to extend certain prescriptions originally written for six months for a further six months if they deem it appropriate.
The Taskforce continue to work together on their second phase of work, which is to empower pharmacists to prescribe within their scope of practice. I am expecting that report in June of this year.
I understand that the pharmacy profession has advocated for the role of a Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for several reasons over the last few years. Many of these are being addressed by the Taskforce. The CPO role in other jurisdictions often has an input in managing medicines shortages.
Medicine shortages are, unfortunately, a feature of modern health systems worldwide and a global health problem. Issues surrounding security of medicines supply have been increasingly well characterised, both nationally and internationally, in recent years. The causes of such supply issues are multifaceted, ranging from pandemics to geopolitical events and perennial shortages of raw materials.
I understand that recurring shortages of medicines can cause concern and I would encourage any patient with concerns about their medicine to speak to their healthcare professionals.
Managing and mitigating against medicines shortages are the subject of several workstreams in my department.
Currently, Ireland has a multi-stakeholder Medicines Shortages Framework, operated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which aims to prevent the occurrence of shortages and reduce their impact as they do arise.
Additionally, my department is progressing several workstreams for management of shortages via the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, including primary legislative amendments to make regulations to enhance the security of medicines supply and for the better management of shortages, via Medicines Substitution Protocols and a reporting requirement for actors in the medicines supply chain.
There are several pharmacists working in the Department of Health tasked with addressing the growing issue of medicines shortages and expanding. Currently, there is currently no Chief Pharmaceutical Officer role in the Department of Health.
