Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
591. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of a 10% increase in placements if the number of undergraduate new entrants in pharmacy increased by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35311/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe practice and profession of pharmacy in Ireland is regulated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI). This is a public body established in law to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public by regulating both pharmacists and pharmacies in Ireland. To qualify as a Pharmacist in Ireland, a student must complete the PSI-accredited Five-Year Integrated Pharmacy Programme (M.Pharm). This is a master’s level qualification and on successful completion of the programme, graduates are then eligible to apply to the PSI for registration.
Placements for the five-year programme are managed by APPEL (Affiliation for Pharmacy Practice Experiential Learning), which was established by the three Schools of Pharmacy in Ireland to manage and centralise the learning placements for students from each of the schools. APPEL also offers placement providers a single point of contact, training and support. The structure of the placements may be viewed at:
www.thepsi.ie/Libraries/Education/Placement_Structure_for_5Yr_Prog_Final_Post_ISG_Mtg_071014.sflb.ashx .
The MPharm Programme involves the integration and dispersal of practice placements for students throughout the five years. This includes experiential placements of varying durations in the three main areas of pharmacy practice, i.e., community, hospital and industry during second, fourth and fifth year with placements in industry and other practice areas (health service, regulatory etc.) occurring in the fourth year.
The MPharm Programme offers opportunities for students to be placed in the three main areas of pharmacy practice and is structured as such to benefit both the student learning experience and contribute to improved outcomes in the health system; the placement in the final year however is required to be in a patient facing role. The majority of students currently complete their final placements in a community pharmacy setting where the placement provider covers direct costs on an altruistic basis, and the latter is not supported by subvention to do so.
Given the particularities of the current structure by which experiential learning placements are delivered during the course of training to become a pharmacist, it is not currently possible to state the cost of a 10% increase in placements if the number of undergraduate new entrants in pharmacy increased by 10%.
