Pharmacy Services

603. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted a formal risk assessment of the requirement that dispensing pharmacies must contact the primary care reimbursement service on a case-by-case basis to secure reimbursement approval for clinically equivalent substitute medicines during a formally declared shortage; whether any patient-safety analysis has been …

606. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the administrative burden placed on community pharmacies in circumstances where substitute reimbursement must be individually queried with the Primary Care Reimbursement Service; whether any review has been undertaken of processing times, approval rates or rejected applications in such cases over the past thr…

610. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any equity impact assessment has been conducted to determine whether patients without medical cards or without established drugs payment scheme eligibility face additional barriers in accessing substitute medicines during shortages; and whether she will outline any measures in place to prevent differential access arising from reimbursem…

1138. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has carried out any clinical risk assessment of patients with disabilities, cognitive impairment, or home-care dependency who rely on pharmacist-prepared monitored dosage systems to safely self-administer prescribed medicines; if so, the date of such assessment; the persons that conducted it; and if she will p…

1139. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any equality or disability impact assessment has been undertaken in respect of the exclusion of pharmacist-prepared monitored dosage systems from State funding under the long-term illness scheme, having regard to obligations to provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities; and if not, when such an assessment will be i…

1140. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the clinical or professional guidance her Department relies upon when stating that monitored dosage systems should be used only as a last resort; the source of that guidance; whether it has been formally adopted in Ireland; and if she will confirm whether any Irish clinical standard governs access to medication compliance supports for vulnerab…

324. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department recognises that, for some people with disabilities and people receiving home-care supports, pharmacist-prepared monitored dosage systems, including blister packs, are clinically required to ensure safe medication administration and compliance; whether any national clinical guidance, policy circular, or Department-approved…

325. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken, or commissioned, any patient safety or risk assessment regarding the withdrawal or non-funding of pharmacist-prepared blister packs for people with disabilities or cognitive impairment who rely on such supports in a home-care setting; the findings of any such assessment; and if none has been undertaken, wh…

326. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has carried out a disability impact assessment, equality impact assessment, or human rights analysis in respect of the non-funding of monitored dosage systems, including blister packs, under the long-term Illness scheme; and if she will confirm whether the implications for people with disabilities living independently or …

327. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when her Department first became aware that monitored dosage systems, including blister packs, were being provided to patients in practice while pharmacies claimed phased dispensing fees; the policy, governance, or compliance actions that were taken by her Department at that time; and if she will outline the Department’s oversight responsibilit…

328. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what interim safeguards or guidance have been issued by her Department to ensure that patients with disabilities or complex medication needs do not experience disruption to medication compliance supports during the current pause in changes to phased dispensing arrangements; and whether clinicians or pharmacists have discretion to continue such …

329. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the mechanism that exist, or are being considered, whereby a clinician, pharmacist, or multidisciplinary care team may formally certify that monitored dosage systems, including blister packs, are clinically necessary for an individual patient; and whether such certification would permit continued provision without cost to the patient under exis…

330. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the way in which the non-funding of pharmacist-prepared blister packs aligns with national home-care policy objectives that support independent living for people with disabilities and older persons; and whether her Department accepts that medication compliance supports form an integral part of safe home-based care. [10674/26]

331. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when her Department’s examination of the use of monitored dosage systems, including blister packs, will conclude; whether formal policy proposals will be published; and if she will commit to ensuring that any future framework explicitly addresses the needs of people with disabilities and those receiving home-care supports. [10675/26]

1092. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify the rules governing pharmacy charges for blister-pack dispensing, including whether such fees must be explicitly itemised and displayed under PSI transparency guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9791/26]

1194. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that pharmacies have begun imposing a €20 monthly charge for the provision of blister-packed medications; the basis on which this fee is being permitted, given previous indications that the matter was under discussion with his Department; the steps he is taking to prevent the introduction of this charge, which disproportionat…

418. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health for an update on discussions with the IPU in relation to blister packs. [8981/26]

3. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she will remove charges for blister packs for those with a clinician-determined need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5083/26]

524. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if any advice or guidance has been provided to pharmacists with respect to the pause on changes to phased dispensing control mechanisms; if so, to provide a copy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5226/26]

525. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to address the concerns raised with respect to monitored dosage systems, or blister packs, as a result of changes agreed under the Community Pharmacy Agreement; if she intends to amend previously agreed changes in phased dispensing control mechanisms during the current pause; and if she will make a statement on the matt…

526. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been brought to an issue related to changes under the Community Pharmacy Agreement (details supplied); if an instruction was issued to pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5228/26]

957. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the enforcement and compliance framework in place to ensure that pharmacies display, in a conspicuous location, the required information on professional service fees and the range of dispensing fees; the respective roles of the PSI and her Department; the actions that may follow where a pharmacy is found not to be compliant, including any san…

958. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the commencement date and operational readiness of the requirement that, from January 2026, patients receive a detailed receipt itemising the medicine cost, the dispensing fee, where applicable, and any other professional service fees; the technical or system changes which were required to deliver this across the sector; to confirm the minimu…

959. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints or concerns received by her Department, the HSE or the PSI since 1 December 2025 relating to non-display of fees, unclear pricing or refusal to provide an itemised receipt, by month, by category where available; the way in which patients can escalate concerns where they believe the guidance is not being followed; and …

960. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health whether her Department plans to review the impact of the PSI transparency guidance and the receipt requirement during 2026, including publishing compliance rates and any changes in average dispensing fees for private patients; whether she plans to place any elements of the guidance on a statutory footing through primary or secondary legislati…