Pharmacists seek greater healthcare role

MILLIONS of euro of taxpayers’ money could be saved if pharmacists were allowed play a greater role in preventative care and the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease, the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) has claimed.

IPU president Michael Guckian said pharmacists were not being utilised to their full potential within the healthcare system.

“Pharmacists have the experience and expert knowledge of speciality medications to facilitate preventative care and treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease,” he told IPU members who attended a conference in Dublin yesterday.