The pilot commences on 1 July and will run in 19 pharmacies in Kells, Roscommon, Macroom and Edenderry for three months.
After this time the pilot phase will be evaluated to establish the value of such a service.
The Scheme will allow medical cardholders to receive treatment for a list of common ailments (dry eye, dry skin, scabies, threadworms and vaginal thrush) directly from their local community pharmacy without the need for a visit to the GP.
“Our goal is to ensure that medical card patients can access support and advice on minor ailments as quickly and effectively as possible. In the pilot areas, patients will now be able to go directly to their local pharmacist without the need for a prescription for the minor ailments covered by the scheme,” said Ms Kate Mulvenna, HSE Chief Pharmacist.
Commenting on the new scheme IPU President Daragh Connolly said, “We look forward to working with other healthcare professionals, including GPs, to deliver a service that will benefit patients, through broader access to treatment for minor conditions.”
The pilot will allow Medical Card patients to receive treatments for these common ailments directly from their pharmacist without having to attend their GP surgery to obtain a prescription. Previously, patients would have had to obtain a prescription to avail of treatment under their medical card.
