Minister for Health secures government approval to further expand the role of pharmacists

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has received government approval to proceed with the drafting of a further amendment to the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024. This amendment will lay the groundwork for the introduction of pharmacist prescribing. This amendment will make provision in primary legislation for the further expansion of the role of pharmacists.

Minister Donnelly said:

"I am delighted to have secured government approval to add an amendment to the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which will be introduced at Report Stage. The amendment will be an important first step in introducing pharmacist prescribing and enhancing the contribution that pharmacists make to our health services.

"I look forward to receiving the final report from the Expert Taskforce on Pharmacy soon. This report and this amendment will provide the fundamentals we need in place to move toward pharmacist prescribing.

"There is work to be done before pharmacists can start prescribing, including the implementation of secondary legislation, regulatory changes and the development of training pathways for pharmacists. However, I think it is important to be ambitious and recognise the positives that expanding the role of pharmacists will bring for the pharmacy profession, the broader health service and patients."

This amendment will now be referred to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting.

The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 is at an advanced stage in the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Minister welcomes the support the Bill has received thus far.

Minister Donnelly added:

"It's clear there is widespread support for my commitment to expand the scope of pharmacy practice in Ireland, and this an opportunity to progress that further and build upon the recent change facilitating the extension of prescriptions by pharmacists."

Notes

On 23 July 2023, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly established the Expert Taskforce to support the expansion of the role of pharmacists in Ireland. The Expert Taskforce is made up of 13 experts with experience in pharmacy education and practice, healthcare policy and delivery, and other related disciplines. Get more information.

The first recommendation of the Expert Taskforce was implemented on 1 March 2024. The maximum legal validity of prescriptions was extended from 6 to 12 months. That means:

• prescribers can now write prescriptions for patients that are valid for up to 12 months
• from September, for prescriptions written on or after 1 March, patients can ask their pharmacists to extend prescriptions from 6 months to a maximum of 12 months

This provides flexibility for patients, reduces the demand on GP services and utilises the expertise of pharmacists to improve the provision of healthcare. Get more information.