Dr Ambrose McLoughlin, Registrar and CEO of the PSI, was speaking as the body made its submission to the Expert Group on Resource Allocation and Financing in the Health Sector.  "Enhancing the frontline professional services in pharmacies would further support home care and cost-effective care within the community, making pharmacy a first ‘point of contact' in a new primary care system, where these would be considered a more appropriate setting for the delivery of certain core elements of diagnosis and treatment. A strategic plan for pharmacy should also examine how to incentivise and enhance the ratio of pharmacists to pharmacies. Key elements of our health service do not presently have the active direct involvement of pharmacists at clinical decision-making level, with consequential deficits in many areas of patient care compared to international, evidence-based standards."

The PSI said that significant patient value and better outcomes for patients, as well as the public, would be delivered by moving from a medication supply model to a frontline professional health service model, as is becoming the norm internationally. Pharmacists play a key role in the safe, appropriate and cost-effective utilisation of medicines, and recognising the professional nature of their role in the supply of medicines will be beneficial to patient outcomes. Other countries are utilising evidence-based approaches in the modernisation of - and to enhance the cost-effectiveness of - their pharmacy services.

The PSI also stated in its submission that a five-year strategic plan for pharmacy services should be the basis of and a prerequisite to remodelling the resource allocation arrangements for pharmacy services. A new contract should be devised which provides adequate compensation for the professional inputs of pharmacists with pharmacists incentivised to support the best outcomes for patients and to ensure delivery of the most cost-effective options of care and treatment.

A model whereby patients are encouraged and required to nominate/register with a pharmacy of their choice should be extended to patients with a continuing care requirement or chronic illness, and consideration given to the payment of professional fees or capitation payments to pharmacists for the provision of certain services.

Pharmacies are easily accessible and should therefore be also encouraged to take lead roles in primary and secondary prevention and health promotion roles.

For more information on the PSI submission, visit http://www.pharmaceuticalsociety.ie/Publications/Publications/Submissions.html