18. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position on further plans on expansion of the role of community pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34893/25]

Sentiment score: 0.01

Pharmacists have shown time and again their great capacity to expand services and provide more and more services to communities locally, for example, vaccinations, repeat prescriptions and in so many other different ways. Will the Minister outline the next steps in expanding the role of pharmacies in community care?

Sentiment score: 0.62

I thank the Minister. She has kind of pre-empted my next question on GPs.

Sentiment score: 0.18

They are under pressure in the complexity and range and the load of the increasing population. GPs in many places are under pressure, especially in rural communities, and medical experts are available beside them with a willingness to expand out and give support. On the common conditions, it is good to hear that the Minister is aiming to get that done in the months ahead before the end of the year. There is a limited number of conditions the Minister is focusing in on. What is the plan for expanding that out? Have the details on it been discussed yet? Will the Minister give an outline on expanding the conditions for which it could be available?

Sentiment score: 0.08

Pharmacists have been raising with me the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Act 2023 and the dispensing of medication for animals. The implementation of the statutory instrument on that is due shortly. They feel very much that this restricts the capacity to make available veterinary medical products, between the cost of getting a prescription and integration with the computer system and in so many different ways. Can we ensure there would be greater integration in, availability of and access to the prescription system? At the moment, a limited number of vets use the online system. Pharmacists are concerned that there is not access to it. Can we also ensure that pharmacists would be enabled to prescribe antiparasitic medicines for food-producing animals?

Sentiment score: 0.07