Vol. 558 No. 6
130 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the pharmacy section review group set up by him; when it is expected that this review group will report back; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25238/02]
The work of the pharmacy review group, established to review the Community Pharmacy Contractor Agreement Regulations, 1996 and chaired by Professor Michael Mortell, is continuing. The group has held 13 meetings since November 2001. The group has based its approach on the principles set out by the Mandelkern Group for evidence-based policy formulation – the Mandelkern Group on Better Regulation Final Report, 13 November 2001. These include: public and interest group consultation; analysis of the existing position, ex-post analysis; and analysis of possible options, ex-ante analysis.
The group consulted widely and, in particular, with consumer interests. The data-based ex-post analysis of the regulations, which were revoked by me in January 2002 following legal advice from the office of the Attorney General, has been completed, and pharmacy models developed by the group are currently undergoing ex-ante analysis. The group is expected to report in January.
