An inspectorate to ensure that all pharmacists in the State are meeting standards laid down by the new regulator of the pharmacy sector will be in place early next year.
Ambrose McLoughlin, registrar of the regulator - the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) - said the regulations provided for "very significant inspection and enforcement powers". He expected a team of inspectors to be working early in the new year.
The Pharmacy Act 2007 was passed in March and sections of it were commenced by Minister for Health Mary Harney in May. It provides for the regulation of the pharmacy sector and replaced 130-year-old legislation.
Mr McLoughlin said one of the regulator's main functions was to protect patients and safeguard the public interest, pointing out that the PSI's 21-member council had a non-pharmacist majority. A complaints committee operating on a statutory basis will examine any issues raised by the public.
Under the new legislation, all pharmacists and pharmacies will have to be registered and will be legally obliged to meet set standards. Fines for very serious breaches of the legislation will range from €130,000 to €320,000.
The PSI is hosting a series of information and consultation meetings around the State in October to explain the implications of the Pharmacy Act and how it will come into force.
Mr McLoughlin said the PSI had a statutory obligation to ensure that "those most affected - namely pharmacists and pharmacy owners, the public and patients" - fully understand the impact of the legislation and how it will be implemented. He said the meetings, to be held at eight different locations, would enable all those concerned to be updated on the implementation process.
He said the regulator was anxious to work in partnership with those in the sector and patient advocacy groups to ensure the legislation was implemented in a "cost-effective and timely manner". This process would continue until all sections of the Act were implemented, he said.
Mr McLoughlin stressed the new fitness to practise and fitness to operate regulations. It would ensure all pharmacists were competent and they would be obliged to attend continuing professional development courses to renew their registration. The new legislation will also lift restrictions preventing pharmacists from other EU states from owning, managing or supervising a pharmacy that is less than three years old.
Over coming years, the physical infrastructure of pharmacies will also have to change to meet patient confidentiality requirements. This will mean providing private consultation rooms for some patients.
Mr McLaughlin said he expected all sections of the Act to be introduced, and to become legally binding, within 24 months.
The Irish Pharmacists Union has welcomed the new legislation saying it recognises the increasingly important role played by pharmacists and that it would ensure the highest ethical and professional standards were maintained. It had been calling for such legislation for more than 30 years.
The regional information meetings will take place at 7.30pm-9.30pm at Dublin Airport, Clarion (Oct 2nd); Waterford, Viking Ramada (Oct 3rd); Cork, Moran Silver Springs (Oct 4th); Sligo, Sligo Park (Oct 9th); Citywest, Citywest Hotel (Oct 10th); Galway, Radisson (Oct 15th); Limerick, Clarion Steamboat Quay (Oct 17th); and Tullamore, Tullamore Court Hotel (Oct 22nd).
