MINISTER FOR Health James Reilly is to introduce changes that will allow pharmacists administer the flu vaccine to patients from the autumn.
He estimated the move could save the State between €5 and €13 million a year and also lead to an increased uptake of the vaccine.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Union held what they said was “a very constructive and very positive” meeting with Dr Reilly at the Department of Health headquarters in Dublin yesterday.
It was the first meeting between the union, which represents 1,600 community pharmacists, and the Minister since he took office in March.
“The Minister said he wanted to see a broader range of services being offered by pharmacists,” IPU president, Darragh O’Loughlin said afterwards. Pharmacists would be “very happy” to take on the flu vaccination programme, he added.
Speaking at the weekend, Minister of State for Health Róisín Shortall said she expected the Government would be able to save money on the winter flu vaccination programme by transferring the administration of the jab from GPs to pharmacists.
However, Mr O’Loughlin said that although the fees charged by pharmacists would be lower than those charged by GPs, the principal benefit would be “a far greater uptake in those people in vulnerable groups getting the vaccine”. This would reduce the numbers admitted to hospitals.
Dr Reilly is also considering introducing legislative changes which will allow pharmacists to substitute generic medications for branded products on doctor’s prescriptions in a move which would save the State and consumers money. The practice is commonplace in other countries and it is expected legislation allowing for such changes will be brought before the Dáil later this year.
Under new rules introduced late last year, pharmacies now have to have dedicated consultation rooms, where patients can discuss their medicines in private. Mr O’Loughlin said these changes coupled with those proposed at yesterday’s meeting meant the time was right for a renegotiation of the community pharmacy contract which is 15 years old.
