Pharmacies to Display Service Costs from December as New Transparency Rules Announced

Community pharmacies across Ireland will be required to clearly display the cost of all professional services from 1 December, following new guidance published by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

The transparency measures, welcomed by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD yesterday, will give patients visibility of dispensing fees and pharmacy service costs for the first time. From 2026, patients will receive detailed receipts breaking down all charges for medicines and professional services.

The guidance has been developed by the PSI, Ireland's pharmacy regulator, to help pharmacists provide clear and accessible pricing information to the public.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said:

"Community pharmacies are at the heart of our healthcare system; they are among the most trusted and accessible healthcare professionals. This guidance will strengthen that trust even further, with access to information about the cost of services pharmacists deliver being made available to the public for the first time."

She added:

"I am grateful to the PSI for developing this guidance as I believe patients need visibility of the fees they are paying for dispensing services when purchasing their prescription medicines."

The changes will be implemented in two phases. From 1 December 2025, pharmacies must display information about the cost of all professional services on a clear notice in a conspicuous location, visible to patients.

From 2026, patients will receive a detailed receipt for any transaction outlining the costs of the medicine, the dispensing fee where applicable, and the cost of any other professional service.

PSI Registrar Joanne Kissane said:

"The PSI is committed to assuring safe, high-quality pharmacy services are available to patients and the public. As part of this, we believe that access to pricing information is essential to empower individuals to make informed healthcare decisions."

She added: "While we do not determine the prices charged by pharmacies, patients have a right to transparent and accurate information on the price of the medicines and health services they access."

The move comes as the Government expands the role of community pharmacists, with the recent Community Pharmacy Agreement giving pharmacists greater responsibilities in healthcare delivery.

The PSI emphasised that whilst it does not set prices, the new guidance will provide patients with an improved understanding of the fees they pay for products and services in pharmacies, maintaining and enhancing public confidence in pharmacists.