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Expanded Role for Pharmacists: Government Approves Pharmacist Prescribing
On Tuesday, 13 August 2024, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, T.D., launched the final report from the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy.
This significant development will empower pharmacists to prescribe medications for a range of common conditions, marking a pivotal shift in the healthcare sector.
Professor Caitriona O'Driscoll, a member of the taskforce, emphasised the importance of this advancement, stating, "This is a landmark achievement for the profession of Pharmacy. It is a recognition of the high level of training and skills of Pharmacists and will provide them with the opportunity to improve the quality of service to patients."
Professor Brendan Griffin, Head of the School of Pharmacy, also commended the release of the report, describing it as "a landmark day for advancing the role of pharmacist-led patient care, particularly for expanding pharmacist prescribing in Ireland. It is also great to see a number of UCC led research studies referenced in this report, confirming the School of Pharmacy UCC’s reputation for leading innovative and impactful research, which is critical to addressing future healthcare needs of our society." He further acknowledged the pioneering efforts of the taskforce, led by Professor Pat O’Mahony, and extended special thanks to Professor Caitriona O’Driscoll and Dr. Kieran Dalton for their roles on the taskforce and research subcommittee respectively.
This initiative represents a significant shift in the healthcare landscape, enabling pharmacists to play a more active role in patient care, which is expected to improve patient outcomes.