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backwards. The reality is that when we were talking about the community pharmacy agreement in October in this House, I raised issues about phased dispensing and blister packing. There was no action from the Minister or her Department. It is only when uproar has arisen in the past … responded to say that she has to try to work things out. We all know that blister packing is separate from phased dispensing, but the reality is that many pharmacists were using the money they were receiving for phased dispensing to put together blister packs for their patients

raised concerns about changes in the agreement when we spoke about it back in October. I highlighted concerns around changes in respect of phased dispensing but nothing was done. It was not until there was increased public pressure that it was suddenly decided that things would change … Something that has not come up enough in this debate, in the media or in the Minister's contribution is the changes to phased dispensing and the impact that will have for some of the most vulnerable parts of our community. Deputy Sherlock made reference to that

area is brilliant. First, I thank Deputies again. I know that the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has outlined that the proposed changes to phased dispensing have been paused until the end of quarter 1 of 2026. This pause was agreed to allow the IPU and its members … issue and in March 2025, it published an article making it clear to its members that blister packing is not the same as phased dispensing and is not reimbursed by the State. While monitored dosage systems may have a role for some patients, there is significant uncertainty around

annum this year and we have targeted measures effectively on the cost-of-living side to support those most in need. On phased dispensing, we will certainly look at any situation where there is potential hardship on any patient or any person in receipt of medicine … Deputy mentioned pharmacies and so on. There is an issue between the HSE and pharmacies in respect of the whole area of phased dispensing, which was introduced as far back as 1996 for patient safety reasons. The supply of medication in instalments can support patients prescribed certain high

them blister packs for free but charging the State under a different heading, as Deputy Cullinane referenced. They have been charging under the phased dispensing scheme, which is a very different scheme. Charging like that is wrong, inappropriate and contrary to numerous circulars that the HSE has issued … been charging this inappropriately and how the regulator or others purport to deal with that. There are many people who have been charging. Phased dispensing is a really important protection for people, particularly those getting psychotropic drugs, opioids and codeine. Those drugs are dispensed, and pharmacists are paid

pharmacists. I understand that this was funded indirectly; I said so at the time. It seems that this was funded through the phased dispensing scheme and that pharmacists were essentially offsetting the cost of blister packs through phased dispensing. Whatever about the rights and wrongs of that … There are different ways this can be done. She could allow GPs, for example, to determine whether, through the same funding pot as phased dispensing, we provide for blister packs as well. Obviously, funding into the pot could be increased. There are a lot of options open

typically dependent on the packs, which as the Minister said on Sunday - and fair enough - are being funded through what is called a phased dispensing reimbursement scheme, are on low incomes. This is coming on top of increasing food and energy costs. There was another announcement … blood tests. When the Government negotiated the agreement with the pharmacies this year, this was not included. The State always paid for the phased dispensing and that was used as a safer way for different people. Some pharmacies were using it to cover the costs, and that

medicine. Initially, pharmacists offered an opt-in for an optional blister packing service. Then it became slightly more formal with the recognition of phased dispensing. That could be requested by a GP. In 2017, the HSE PRCS decided to take a more in-depth look because the fees … phased dispensing service were increasing. They were up around €68 million per annum at that stage. They dropped back to between €53 million and €54 million, on average, in 2022-23 and €58 million per annum in 2024. There are effectively three systems in place. The first

there was an issue where the Department did not know on a practical level that the facts of the situation were that the phased dispensing scheme was being used to pay for these, it was this. I could instance hundreds of different ways where I feel … using it, particularly older vulnerable people with dementia, brain injuries and disabilities. The monitored dosing systems were historically reimbursed in practice through phased dispensing, as the Minister has admitted, which was in reality known to everybody who was involved in the system. We raised the concerns in October

That was never the case. We also understand, and I acknowledged this at the time the community pharmacy agreement was being reached, that phased dispensing was being used by some pharmacists to offset the cost of blister packs. Whatever about the rights and wrongs of that, which … said, the Government knew when it negotiated this agreement and, as it saw it, tightened up on the rules in relation to phased dispensing, that this was going to happen. I knew it was going to happen. I warned the Government, it did not listen

Department of Health; — the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 explicitly excluded reimbursement for monitored dosage systems (MDS), which had previously been reimbursed through the phased dispensing reimbursement mechanism, a practice which was widely known, accepted, and unchallenged by the Government; — MDS, such as blister packs, are an essential

ábalta a gcuid pacáistí táibléad blister a fháil saor in aisce. The Taoiseach's Government's decision to restrict medications covered under the phased dispensing scheme operated by pharmacies is a disaster. The Government's decision means some of the most vulnerable people will no longer receive tablet

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will suspend implementation of the proposed changes to phased dispensing under the new community pharmacy agreement pending full consultation with front-line clinicians; if she will undertake a risk impact assessment, specifically examining effects on vulnerable groups … will commit to co-designing revised criteria for phased dispensing with GPs, pharmacists, disability services, and patient groups (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68088/25

Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will reexamine the decision to cease the phased dispensing reimbursement service for certain medications in community pharmacies (details supplied) which cannot be prescribed on a phased basis. [68567/25

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if phased dispensing will still be provided free of charge for patients at the request of their physician; whether the HSE expects this to take place for many existing patients; when the approved list of medications will be provided

early 2026; the proposed membership of this group; if it will include representation for vulnerable groups, in particular those impacted by changes to phased dispensing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70725/25

Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will reexamine the decision to cease the phased dispensing reimbursement service for certain medications in community pharmacies (details supplied). [68566/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the approved list of medications for reimbursement for phased dispensing under the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025; if reimbursement is available to medical card holders availing of monitored dosing systems due to a diagnosed medical conditions (details supplied

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will reverse the proposed changes to phased dispensing under the new community pharmacy agreement, which are due to come into operation on 1 January 2026; if her Department or the HSE assessed the impact of these changes