A Clare GP is lending his voice to calls for the workload facing pharmacists to be drastically reduced.
The Government is being called on to reform the funding model for pharmacies, amid complaints of burnout among staff members.
Pharmacists and those working in pharmacies are said to be under “phenomenal pressure” due to workload increases coupled with medicine shortages.
Ireland is reportedly experiencing a shortage of roughly 300 medicines including steroid cream to treat eczema, ADHD medication and diabetes drug Ozempic.
A survey of members has found that four in five pharmacists expect the problem to further deteriorate over the coming year, which is expected to both have medical implications and further negatively impact on staff morale.
GP at Ennis Medical Centre, Dr Fergus Glynn believes reform is needed to streamline the job of pharmacists who he says play a crucial role in society.
An expert taskforce is considering expanding pharmacy services to include independent prescribing powers, the provision of care for common conditions and enhanced contraceptive care.
It’s hoped that following this proposed expansion, health service wait times would be reduced, resulting in increased accessibility to healthcare.
The Irish Pharmacy’s Union is advocating for the Health Miscellanous Provisions Bill, which is currently before the Oireachtas.
This would allow the Health Minister to introduce a scheme whereby pharmacists can use substitute medicines for patients without needing to liaise with the prescribing doctor.
Newly-appointed president of the IPU, Tom Murray says the Minister must listen to the demands of pharmacists and invest accordingly.
Listen to the full interview here