Organisation: Irish Pharmacy Union

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>How would you tackle a drawer or shelf full of unused and out-of-date medicines like this?</p>

outdoors

Tackling out-of-date medicines — they can be a serious health and environmental risk

Internationally, one of the most pressing health challenges of our time is the problem of bacteria and viruses which resist the effects of medicine. Every antibiotic incorrectly disposed of adds to this problem

<p>Director of addiction management at the Irish College of General Practitioners Bernard Kenny said criminalisation of drug use 'further marginalises people' in disadvantaged communities. File picture</p>

news

GPs and pharmacists support removal of criminal sanctions for drug users

<p>(Left to right) Interim Chief Medical Officer Professor Mary Horgan, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Chair of the Expert Taskforce Dr Pat O’Mahony at the the final report of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy. The “radical report” comes on the back of the pharmacy sectors’ successful involvement in the covid-19 vaccine programme. Photo: Bryan Brophy/1IMAGE Photography</p>

news

Pharmacies will be able to prescribe medicines for eight illnesses next year

S companies

My Job: Ireland's changing pharmacies

comment-analysis

Catherine Conlon: Could pharmacies help prevent measles surge?

news

'We let bureaucracy get in the way': Call for faster appraisal of new RSV treatment

Pharmacists 'a step closer' to being able to prescribe medicines

Move to amend health bill was welcomed by Irish Pharmacy Union

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Number of pharmacies offering needle exchange scheme to drug addicts set to fall by 25%

Needle exchange service provide sterile equipment to drug addicts as a harm reduction initiative.

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Some prescriptions to be valid for up to a year under rule change

Stephen Donnelly said it will provide flexibility for patients and reduce the demand on primary care services.

Fri, 01 Mar, 2024

Pharmacies forced to refuse women seeking free contraception under new scheme

Pharmacist criticises confusion over new Government scheme as free contraception can only be availed of through a prescription from GPs

Mon, 11 Sep, 2023

Late-night pharmacy openings under threat

Pharmacies are ending their late-night services and reducing their weekend opening hours due to the financial pressures they currently face, the IPU has warned

Thu, 08 Jun, 2023

Pharmacists want authority to substitute medicines without new prescriptions

The national medicines shortages list now shows 247 out of stock

Wed, 08 Mar, 2023

Pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments 'would help solve A&E backlog'

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has been calling for an expansion of the services since 2014.

Mon, 20 Feb, 2023

EU preparing to stockpile drugs in efforts to tackle medicines shortages — report

The European Commission will also try to reduce reliance on China and increase domestic production capacity, the commission told the Financial Times

Thu, 12 Jan, 2023

Pharmacists call for urgent law to let them supply substitute medicines amid shortages

A 'serious shortage protocol' would permit pharmacists to issue appropriate alternatives when the prescribed drug is not available

Mon, 09 Jan, 2023

Pharmacists warn antibiotic stocks for respiratory illnesses at 25-year low

HSE currently assessing demand for and supply of antibiotics to ensure sufficient for needs of primary care and hospital teams

Fri, 09 Dec, 2022

Choosing the right pregnancy prevention method

Q&A: Everything you need to know about the new free contraception scheme

It is available for women aged 17 to 25, is not linked to having a medical card, and includes advice on which contraception to use

Wed, 14 Sep, 2022

World Health Organisation: Ireland will see Covid surges every three months

Today, the Department of Health reported a further 2,307 cases of Covid-19 - 530 less than yesterday.

Wed, 27 Apr, 2022

Mature Woman Experiencing Hot Flush From Menopause

Pharmacists struggle to meet demand for menopause treatment products

The problem is so acute some GPs list hormone replacement therapy substitutes on prescriptions so women do not have to keep going back for new prescriptions

Fri, 15 Apr, 2022

Dedicated pharmacy school is needed to avert community pharmacy 'crisis'

Irish Pharmacy Union president says we are not training enough pharmacists, and that if it's not resolved, 'a reduction in services is inevitable'

Mon, 14 Feb, 2022

Businesses rush to put contingencies in place as staff levels plummet

A lot of staff shortages are due to the rules around close contacts. A Government source indicated a review of those rules is still "definitely something that is on the table"

Sat, 08 Jan, 2022

Pharmacists call for antigen tests to be subsidised

An interim report from the Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group has found “widespread misconceptions” around antigen tests

Wed, 17 Nov, 2021

More than 250,000 Covid-19 vaccines have now been administered at pharmacies across Ireland

To date, 14,650 vaccines have been administered to those aged between 12 and 15

Wed, 01 Sep, 2021

U.K. Paves Way for First Tests to Expose People to Coronavirus

Pressure on pharmacies as vaccine-keen 18 to 34-year-olds scramble for jabs

That age cohort can now get the one-shot Janssen vaccine in pharmacies from Monday, but Health Minister Stephen Donnelly cautioned 'there is not one for everyone in the audience'

Sat, 03 Jul, 2021

Patients miss cancer treatment due to health service hack

People distressed at missed appointments as HSE expert says restoring order will take 'a number of days'

Sat, 15 May, 2021

Pharmacists frustrated over delayed role in vaccination programme

Irish Pharmacy Union said the expected use of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine for 'hard to reach' groups is a perfect match with pharmacies

Tue, 27 Apr, 2021

Review may see some vulnerable people vaccinated sooner than expected

The minister is expected to bring new legislation to Cabinet today which will see travellers entering Ireland from certain countries facing mandatory 14-day quarantine in hotels.

Tue, 16 Feb, 2021

Covid 19: More anti-depressants dispensed in 2020 than year before

Rise in prescriptions reflects growing need for help as pandemic continues, pharmacist says

Wed, 06 Jan, 2021

10% drop in contraceptive pill prescriptions since start of Covid-19 crisis

There has been a significant drop in the number of prescriptions dispensed for oral contraception since the start of the Covid-19 crisis .

Fri, 08 May, 2020

Covid-19 fallout is a bitter pill for pharmacies

It was a dream come true when Caitriona O'Riordan opened her small rural pharmacy in Enniskeane, Co Cork, five years ago. Now she is losing sleep over her business.

Wed, 06 May, 2020

Covid-19: Pharmacies hit with surging costs lay off staff

Pharmacies are struggling to cope with soaring costs while providing frontline care during the Covid-19 crisis.

Wed, 06 May, 2020

Pharmacists urge free flu jab for all

Free flu vaccine should be available to everyone from six months old, the Irish Pharmacy Union has urged.

Fri, 01 May, 2020

Irish Pharmacy Union calls for suspension of medical card prescription levy amid Covid-19 spread

Age Action say people who are advised to cocoon are turning up in pharmacies to pay for medicines.

Wed, 08 Apr, 2020

Pharmacists implementing social distancing as HSE advises people to continue taking their medication

The HSE is advising anyone with coronavirus to continue taking any medication they were already taking, unless advised otherwise by a healthcare professional.

Mon, 16 Mar, 2020

Donohoe: Government will do whatever is needed to cope with Covid-19

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe says the government will do whatever is needed to cope with the impact of coronavirus.

Tue, 10 Mar, 2020

Darragh O'Loughlin: Simple remedy to ease the ills of health sector

Change has become the dominant word in Irish politics in recent weeks, but pharmacists have been screaming this word for years — and are now demanding that change in the health sector is ignited by whichever parties form the next Government.

Thu, 27 Feb, 2020

Government accused of seeking to implement €45 million tax cuts to pharmacies funding

The Government has been accused of seeking to implement fresh cuts totalling €45 million to the funding of pharmacies on top of cuts introduced during the crash.

Thu, 21 Nov, 2019

Uptake of flu vaccine 'not nearly high enough', says Harris

The uptake of the flu vaccine among healthcare staff is “still not nearly high enough”, according to Health Minister Simon Harris.

Thu, 10 Oct, 2019

Pharmacies propose scheme to give women access to free contraception

The Irish Pharmacy Union is proposing a scheme by which women could access contraception directly from their community pharmacist without a prescription and without charge.

Mon, 12 Aug, 2019

'Not all barriers to contraception are financial', say Irish Pharmacy Union

Allowing women to access contraception from their pharmacist without a prescription would “dramatically improve access to essential healthcare for thousands of women”, Ireland's main pharmacy union has said.

Fri, 02 Aug, 2019

Working Life: Muriel Pate, medication safety specialist pharmacist

Muriel Pate, medication safety specialist pharmacist, HSE National Quality Improvement

Tue, 09 Jul, 2019

New system could cause delays for 15,000 patients seeking special medicines

Some 15,000 people suffering from chronic illnesses may face delays in receiving their medicines due to a new ordering system for special drugs brought about by the HSE.

Wed, 19 Jun, 2019

Fears that HSE have 'exhausted' funds for new drugs

15 new medicines have already been approved which would benefit 3,000 patients.

Sun, 24 Feb, 2019

Pharmacists issue festive warning: Don't mix medication and alcohol

If you're on medication and your Christmas party is coming up, seek advice before consuming alcohol with them.

Fri, 14 Dec, 2018

Back to school: Six tips for keeping your child 'school healthy'

WITH children back at school for over a week, the chances are that many parents are already dealing with new-term bugs and sniffles, writes Sharon Ní Chonchúir.

Thu, 06 Sep, 2018

Warning over food intolerance tests

The country’s health products’ watchdog has said food intolerance tests are clinically invalid and nobody should act on the results of the tests without expert advice from a medical expert.

Tue, 30 Jan, 2018

Pharmacists urging people to be more involved in their own healthcare

People are being encouraged to play a greater role in their own healthcare.

Thu, 25 Jan, 2018

Calls to extend nicotine replacement therapy

The Irish Pharmacy Union has lobbied the Government to make nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) available to medical-card holders who want to quit smoking.

Tue, 01 Aug, 2017

Addictive legal drugs taken for medical purposes are leading to chronic problems

Sharon Ní Chonchuir hears how addictive painkillers are leading to chronic problems among people who began taking them for medical reasons.

Sat, 01 Jul, 2017

Pharmacists warn over buying medicine online

Buying prescribed medicines online can be “deadly dangerous”, pharmacists have warned. The Irish Pharmacy Union expressed concern that many medicines purchased online are fake and have potentially lethal health consequences.

Thu, 29 Jun, 2017