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

(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

Patients will be able to get prescriptions for eight illnesses including shingles and urine infections in pharmacies instead of GPs from early next year, the health minister has said.

This means they will no longer have to attend a GP to get treatment for these illnesses. The move is expected to make it faster for patients to get the conditions treated and could also cut waiting times in general practice by reducing patient numbers.

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), while welcoming the move, also cautioned funding is needed to support the “ambitious plan” before it can roll out. It is not yet decided what fees patients will pay in pharmacies with talks set to take place between the Department of Health and the IPU.

This follows a final report from the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy, published on Tuesday. 

The eight conditions also include allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nose), cold sores (on the face or genitals), conjunctivitis, impetigo, oral and vulvovaginal thrush. Pharmacists will deal with uncomplicated cases of UTI (urinary tract infection) and cystitis. 

The list is expected to expand at a later date. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly reassured the public this is a safe move.

“The first recommendation is that patients should be able to get prescriptions for basic common conditions directly from their pharmacy, without having to visit a GP at any point,” he said.

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He acknowledged many people face waits of weeks to see a GP, and predicted this measure will help alleviate that. Legislation has already been enacted to make this possible.

The “radical report” comes on the back of the pharmacy sectors’ successful involvement in the covid-19 vaccine programme. Mr Donnelly also highlighted the proposed move “in a safe manner” towards more independent prescribing.

This will include hospital pharmacists working with other hospital staff to prescribe and pharmacists working with GPs and nursing homes or other residential settings.

Fees

However, he acknowledged serious concerns remain among pharmacists around fees paid by the State for the work they already do. He has told the IPU discussions will take place on this, and said: “I want those talks to commence formally after the Budget.” 

IPU president Tom Murray said the 18 recommendations will make it “significantly easier and quicker” for patients to get treatment. “However a lot of work still needs to be done before implementation can begin,” he cautioned.

The move also means a change to how pharmacists are trained, taskforce chair Dr Pat O’ Mahony said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the public, for patients, to enhance the level of service that they get in a safe, proportionate way,” he added.

Professor Mary Horgan, in her first week as interim chief medical officer, said the move will have "a positive impact" for patients. She added "timely, accessible and affordable healthcare" is crucial and she expects to see this change helping patients.