171. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments regarding pharmacists and pharmacy services. [67415/26]

Under the Health Act 2004, the day-to-day operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health services is a matter for HSE. The parts of this query  which relate to streamlining community pharmacy HSE reimbursement procedures, as a Programme for Government commitment, .have therefore been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. In relation to the three other Programme for Government Commitments related to pharmacy and pharmacists (i.e. appointment of a Chief Pharmaceutical officer, expansion of pharmacy services and reviewing the pharmacy fee structure) please see the response below.

There are 5 important commitments regarding pharmacists and pharmacy services in the Programme for Government, namely:

Appoint a Chief Pharmaceutical Officer within the Department of Health.

Introduce a Common Conditions Service and further expand the services provided by pharmacists.

Streamline community pharmacy HSE reimbursement procedures.

Review the pharmacy fee structure.

Increase the number of healthcare college places in nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health and social care professions (including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy).

Update on the implementation of these commitments:

Appointment of Chief Pharmaceutical Officer within the Department of Health: The Department has successfully completed the appointment process for the role of Chief Pharmaceutical Officer. A formal statement from the Minister for Health will issue shortly.

Expansion of pharmacy services:

Common Conditions Service (CCS) :

Following on from the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, medicines and pharmacy legislation has been changed to enable community pharmacists to provide treatment, including prescription treatments, for eight specified common conditions under the Common Conditions Service, in accordance with clinical protocols. A public awareness campaign launched on 19 January 2026. Over 95% of pharmacies have signed up to provide this private, fee- based consultation service to help treat some common health conditions such as conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections and shingles.

A focus group of Common Conditions Service Data Champion pharmacists (to gather feedback and insights on delivery of service) was held on 30 July 2026. In addition, 110 of the 150 Data Champion pharmacists have completed and submitted their pharmacist surveys to the DoH to date. Quantitative data submission from these 150 data champion pharmacies will commence in October 2026 and will be used in conjunction with the qualitative data to evaluate the implementation of the service. An online public survey is available to capture patient’s perspectives of the service.  PROCS unit are considering other conditions to include in a potential expansion of the service in future, following the success of the first eight conditions.

PPV23 Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination: The Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 formally expands the role of Community Pharmacists in public Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) administration as part of the national immunisation programme. From 1 May 2026, Community Pharmacists are now enabled and funded to administer the PPV23 to healthy over 65-year olds who hold a GMS Card, GP Visit Card (GPVC) or Health Amendment Act (HAA) Card.

The Medicines Optimisation Support Service: a significant reform of phased dispensing arrangements alongside the introduction of a new patient-centred Medicine Optimisation Support Service, came into effect on 1 June 2026. The reforms see rigid phased dispensing fees replaced with a more flexible patient focused model - which empowers pharmacists to use their professional judgement to support patients most in need.

MediBack: this Disposal of Unused Medicines service, alongside a public communications campaign launched on 28 August 2026.  This is a nationwide service, available in every community pharmacy in Ireland and will ensure the safe return and disposal of unused or expired medicines via community pharmacies. It is free of charge for the public.

National Condom Distribution Service (NCDS): The NCDS is being expanded on a phased basis to pharmacy consultation rooms, to further enable contraception availability through pharmacies. Phased introduction to pharmacies is almost complete.

The Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026 was signed into law by President Connolly on 21 July 2026, enabling pharmacists to extend prescriptions for contraception. Secondary legislation, regulatory guidance and education and training for pharmacists is being prepared to support operationalisation of this service by pharmacists.

BowelScreen Programme Support - Community pharmacies are now playing an important role in supporting the National BowelScreen Programme. Through their accessibility and trusted relationships with patients, pharmacists and pharmacy teams are helping to increase awareness of bowel cancer screening and improve participation rates across the country. More than 1,550 pharmacies have signed up to provide this service.

Streamline community pharmacy HSE reimbursement procedures:

This particular Programme for Government commitment is led by the HSE. Accordingly, this part of the PQ has been forwarded to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.

Review the pharmacy fee structure:

The Department, HSE and Irish Pharmacy Union concluded pharmacy contract negotiations in September 2025, resulting in the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025. This Agreement includes commitments to commence a range of new services, provides an uplift in the core dispensing fees, secures the cooperation of community pharmacy with the eHealth agenda, and provides a process for ongoing strategic engagement between the three parties. Two meetings of the Strategic Collaboration Group (which includes colleagues from the Department of Health, HSE and Irish Pharmacy Union) have occurred in 2026.

A statutory review of pharmacy fees has commenced, in accordance with section 42 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.

5. Increased the numbers of pharmacy places in universities:

• Significant Government investment is being provided to expand healthcare education provision from 2025–2026 as a key part of addressing future supply of healthcare professionals and ensuring Ireland can meet growing healthcare needs.

• In February 2026, Minister for Further and Higher Education announced €28.5 million investment to support the delivery of more than 1,100 additional healthcare training places over the next three years across medicine, nursing, therapy professions, pharmacy, and dentistry.

• This investment supports the creation of 151 additional pharmacy places annually across University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University and Southeast Technological University.