Under plans to boost the role of pharmacists in healthcare provision, they will now be permitted to prescribe medication that previously required a doctor’s subscription for several widely occurring ailments. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced this expansion on Tuesday via the final report from a specialist taskforce.
This strategy aims to alleviate the burden on general practitioners by encouraging more community-based treatment, a key aspect of the Sláintecare health reform policy. The report suggests that eight prevalent health issues are to be addressed—these include; inflammation of the nasal passages (allergic rhinitis), uncomplicated urinary tract infections, cold sores, conjunctivitis (eye infection), shingles, a highly infectious skin disorder called impetigo, and two forms of infections (oral and vulvovaginal) caused by yeast fungi.
Donnelly has indicated that the scheme for these common ailments will be set up starting from the early part of next year. Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Mary Horgan, emphasised the necessity of easily accessible, timely, and cost-effective healthcare for everyone in the interest of public health.