Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said new measures which would give pharmacists more powers to prescribe drugs would come into force in the new year, reports RTE.
The decision is in line with the first recommendations of an expert task force set up to examine the issue.
Mr Donnelly said the expanded role will improve patient care and access.
From March 1, pharmacists can extend patients’ prescriptions for up to 12 months if they see fit.
They may, after conducting an assessment, decide to deny the patient’s request for a prescription extension.
TheLiberal.ie won’t quit
Please support us with a small donation on PayPal!
Some drugs will not be eligible for prescription extension, reports RTE.
The move will give patients the flexibility to not have to visit their GP for re-prescribing, and also reduce the burden on GPs.
This is the first recommendation from an expert task force set up earlier this year to examine the role of pharmacists.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Union’s (IPU) director of professional services said resources would be needed to support the new measures, reports RTE.
Susan O’Dwyer said changes in pharmacist practice were needed to provide more “structured consultations”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, she said the move would give patients more choice and flexibility and “hopefully better care in the local community”, reports RTE.
She said there was a global shortage of drugs and they would be dispensed only if pharmacists and patients were satisfied.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
