The Government’s decision to remove funding from January for so-called medication blister packs supplied by pharmacies has been postponed following political opposition.
Yesterday, the Dáil was told that people, particularly older individuals and those living with dementia, feared they would be required to pay between €20 and €50 per month for the blister packs, which had previously been provided free of charge, reports RTE.
The packs separate daily tablet doses into individual plastic compartments, helping patients avoid confusion about what medication to take and when.
However, in a statement issued this afternoon, the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) said that after “extensively engaging with the Department of Health and HSE”, it was agreed that the introduction of charges would be paused until a later date in the first quarter of 2026, reports RTE.
The IPU said it was important to note that blister packs are not reimbursed by the State and that the service has been privately provided, with proportionate fees set by individual pharmacies.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she welcomed the outcome of the discussions and said the IPU would now have additional time to engage with patients in a “structured and individualised way over the next three months”, reports RTE.
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