Pharmacists to Prescribe Medicine for Common Conditions for First Time in Ireland
Pharmacists in Ireland to prescribe medicines for common conditions like conjunctivitis and UTIs from early 2026, following new legislation signed today.
Pharmacists across Ireland, including Cork, will soon be able to prescribe medicines for eight common conditions without patients needing to visit a GP, following legislation signed today by the Minister for Health.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has signed new regulations under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, enabling pharmacists to provide treatment for specified minor conditions through a new Common Conditions Service.
Under the service, participating pharmacists will be able to prescribe certain medicines for conditions including conjunctivitis, impetigo, cold sores, shingles, uncomplicated urinary tract infections, oral thrush, vulvovaginal thrush, and allergic rhinitis.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has launched mandatory training for pharmacists wishing to deliver the service. Under the recently agreed Community Pharmacy Agreement, interested pharmacies must sign up by 1 December 2025 and begin delivering the service to the public by 31 March 2026 to receive a once-off allowance of €2,000.
The service is expected to become available to the public over the coming months as pharmacists complete the necessary training.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
"Pharmacists are highly trained and highly trusted healthcare professionals who play a vital role in our communities and our health service every day. Guaranteeing faster access to treatment for common conditions will enable the public to access care in the right place, at the right time, by the right healthcare professional."
Joanne Kissane, Registrar and Chief Officer of the PSI, said:
"The Common Conditions Service will expand community pharmacists' ability to further support patients in the management and treatment of certain common conditions by enabling them to prescribe medicines where this is the most appropriate option."
The initiative follows recommendations from an Expert Taskforce established in 2023 to explore broadening pharmacists' scope of practice. The taskforce's report, published in August 2024, recommended implementing the Common Conditions Service to enable community pharmacists to manage common conditions by offering self-care advice and prescribing when appropriate.
Patients with eligibility under community drug schemes can have the cost of prescribed medicines covered under the new service.
A webinar was provided for pharmacists on 6 November outlining the legal and regulatory requirements for the service. Training consists of a core module on the legal and ethical framework, plus individual modules for each common condition covered by the service.
