Third-level colleges have been given the chance to provide 50 additional pharmacy places in an effort to deal with restricted entry to the profession and a significant shortage of personnel.
The rise in numbers from 70 to 120 is the largest increase in the profession in many decades and further increases may also take place. The extra 50 places have been sanctioned by the Minister for Education, Dr Woods.
All third-level colleges can now make proposals to offer the places. Trinity College Dublin is currently the only provider in the Republic. Dr Woods has asked the other colleges to make proposals to offer new courses to the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
He has taken the decision following a report by the former secretary general of the Department of Public Enterprise, Mr John Loughrey.
In it, Mr Loughrey said that "given the accumulated under-supply of the last 10 years" 50 places, in addition to those sanctioned by Dr Woods, should be considered. However, he said these places might cease after five years.
Mr Loughrey outlined serious shortages of pharmacists in the hospital sector where he said "heroic levels of patient care" were needed to make up for the overall shortfalls. He also said it was not acceptable for the State to "depend" on British universities to fill the staffing gaps in the profession here.
The publication of the report and Dr Woods's decision follows strong criticism of some of the practices in the profession. The Competition Authority has claimed there are "formidable barriers" governing access to the profession. At a presentation in May the authority said the limit on places at third level was used to keep down the numbers entering the profession.
One of its members, Mr Declan Purcell, said one practice which gave rise to concern was the placing of geographical restrictions on where pharmacy outlets could be set up. He said this could be seen as an anti-competitive measure. This could arise because some pharmacies in busy neighbourhoods might be protected from potential competitors coming into their area.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) was unavailable for comment yesterday on the extra places, although the organisation is understood to be considering its position. It has previously stated there is no conclusive evidence to support extra pharmacists. It has also warned that an oversupply could be detrimental.
Many colleges are anxious to become providers of a pharmacy course, most prominently the Royal College of Surgeons. Trinity is also allowed to apply with a proposal to extend its current course.
The HEA, which will be accepting proposals from the colleges, said yesterday people qualified in general medicine, chemistry and biology might be able to become pharmacists by doing a fast-track course of one or two years.
Its chairman, Dr Don Thornhill, said this idea was outlined in Mr Loughrey's report. However, Dr Thornhill said any changes would have to be done in consultation with the PSI.
He said the HEA would deal with the applications quickly "so that additional places could be available in the autumn of 2001".
Dr Thornhill said many people completed medicine but did not want to do a course in that area. A good number of these would be suitable as pharmacists if they did an "accelerated conversion course".