The Expert Taskforce to support the expansion of the role of pharmacy in Ireland was established in July 2023 by the then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD. The Taskforce was asked to consider how pharmacists can expand upon their present scope of practice for the benefit of patients, the public and the wider health system. The work of the Expert Taskforce was divided into two phases:

• Phase 1: The first interim report was published in November 2023 and recommended that pharmacists be enabled to extend and dispense certain prescriptions from six months up to a maximum of 12 months where appropriate.
• Phase 2: The second phase of the Taskforce examined empowering pharmacists to prescribe within their scope of practice.

The second and final report was published in August 2024. It recommends that pharmacists should be able to prescribe for a range of common conditions, starting with an initial list of eight conditions which can be extended over time as the service evolves.

The Taskforce also recommended, over the coming years, the introduction of independent pharmacist prescribing in Ireland and that independent pharmacist prescriber roles be developed across the health service within primary and secondary care settings. Further information can be found on the IIOP website and PSI website .

Common Conditions

The Common Conditions Service enables community pharmacists to provide advice and offer treatment for an initial eight common conditions in community pharmacies. Pharmacists already provide advice, over-the-counter treatment and/or referral for these conditions.  The service expands community pharmacists’ ability to manage these common conditions by enabling them to supply certain prescription-only medicines through established clinical protocols, where this is the most appropriate option. The Common Conditions programme is available on the IIOP website - you can search for and enrol on the Common Conditions programme at the IIOP's course selector webpage.(Please note - access to this section of the IIOP website is only available to pharmacists registered in Ireland).

The Common Conditions service was developed to improve access to care, reduce pressure on general practice, and enhance the responsiveness of the healthcare system. This service is aligned with broader policy commitments to integrated and accessible community-based care.

More information is available on the PSI website.

Prescription Extension

Amendments to the Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008  and the  Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003  allow prescribers to issue prescriptions for up to 12 months and allow pharmacists to extend a six-month prescription for up to a further 6 months.

These changes were introduced following the first recommendation of the Expert Taskforce to enable prescription extension by pharmacists. This recommendation was accepted by the then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly in November 2023.

The changes mean that:

• Since 1 March 2024, prescriptions can be dispensed for up to 12 months from the date they are written where the prescriber has indicated this on the prescription.  
• Since 1 September 2024, pharmacists can extend prescriptions written for six months for up to a further six months where, in their professional judgement, it is safe and appropriate to do so and once defined criteria have been met. These criteria include communication with the patient or their representative, consideration of the suitability of the medication, the current stability of a patient’s clinical regime, continuity of care and lack of relevant change.
• Where a prescriber does not wish for a prescription to be considered for extension, they can write ‘Do Not Extend’ on the prescription.

More information is available on the PSI website which includes the PSI Guidelines to support Medicines Therapy Review, Counselling, and Prescription Extension.