Pharmacy role expanding to include substitution of cheaper generic drugs

By Caroline ODoherty

Monday, December 31, 2012

The role of the main street pharmacy is broadening, with pharmacists now administering flu vaccinations, supplying the morning-after pill, and providing consultation rooms for medical checks.

In the new year, a new law will also give pharmacists the job of deciding when they should substitute cheaper generic drugs for branded ones prescribed by GPs.

It would be welcomed by the Irish Pharmaceutical Union which represents the profession if, as seems likely, pharmacists eventually take on more health screening and chronic disease management too.

While their role has been expanding, so too has regulation of their profession. In late 2009 the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland came into being as the statutory pharmacy regulator.

Its job is to register, regulate, inspect, discipline and assist the professional development of the 4,500 pharmacists and 550 pharmaceutical assistants who own, manage and work in the countrys 1,700 pharmacies.

Its a 1.9bn a year business, with about 1.6m visits being made to pharmacies every week.

In the three years since it was set up, the regulator has received 164 formal complaints about pharmacists a rate of one a week. Of those, 150 have so far been examined by the preliminary proceedings committee and 110 were found not to warrant further action.

Of the other 40, one was referred for inquiry to the regulators health committee, which investigates a pharmacists ability to practice where there are concerns over a physical or mental ailment. The complaint was substantiated but the hearing was in private so details are not available.

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Pharmacy role expanding to include substitution of cheaper generic drugs