Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026

Public bill · Government · Presented

The measure would let certain retail pharmacies offer a new prescription service for contraception, so registered pharmacists could issue prescriptions for specified contraceptive medicines and products under agreed clinical rules. It would also extend the Free Contraception Scheme to this pharmacy service, so eligible women could get it free, while also allowing private patients aged 17 to 55 who are not eligible for the scheme to use it for a fee. It matters because it should make renewing contraception prescriptions quicker, more convenient, and cheaper for many people.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to make provision to enable certain registered pharmacists in retail pharmacy businesses to issue prescriptions for certain contraceptive drugs, medicines and products; for that purpose, to amend the Health Act 1970, the Irish Medicines Board Act 1995 and the Pharmacy Act 2007; and to provide for related matters.