Independent Body for Community Pharmacy Dispensing Fee
The Independent Body has completed its work and submitted its Report to the Minister in June 2008. Download the report.
Membership
- Seán Dorgan, former Head of IDA Ireland
- Mary O’Dea, Consumer Director, Financial Regulator
- Mark Moran, Chairman EBS, former CEO Mater Private Hospital
Terms of reference:
To advise the Minister for Health and Children on the appropriate level of dispensing fee to be paid to community pharmacists for existing services provided under the GMS and community drug schemes having regard to:
- the overall public interest including the issues of patient safety and continuity of supply;
- the fee of €5 per item which has already been offered;
- the reasonable costs incurred by pharmacists in providing services under the schemes and the value of the professional service of dispensing; and
- the statutory obligation on the HSE to use the resources available to it in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public;
and to submit a report on the matter to the Minister for Health and Children.
The requested date for submission of the report is 31 May 2008
Mode of operation:
Both the HSE as the contracting body and the IPU as the representative organisation for community pharmacists, along with other stakeholders, will be entitled to make submissions addressing whatever factors and issues are of concern to them.
The body will also be entitled to engage whatever outside expertise it requires to assist it with its task.
Based on its consideration of submissions received and its own independent evaluation, the body will recommend an appropriate dispensing fee to the Minister that would, in its view, represent a fair and reasonable price to be paid for the pharmaceutical service currently being provided by community pharmacists to the HSE under the GMS and community drug schemes.
