"I believe patients don’t have clear visibility of the fees they are paying for services such as dispensing services when getting their prescription medicines dispensed. Since becoming Minister for Health, I have engaged with pharmacy stakeholders, pharmacists, and patients on a wide range of issues concerning community pharmacies. Through these engagements I recognise that the fees patients pay for medicines and associated services are not well understood and not as clear as we should expect in 2025.

"Pharmacists are highly trained, highly competent and trusted professionals who offer expert advice on illness, ensure the safe supply of medicines, and deliver vaccines to the public. They absolutely should charge a service fee for their expertise and for these professional services.

"I want to see pharmacists working at the very top of their expertise, providing the best of professional services to their community, who place great trust in them. I also want to see pharmacists providing more professional healthcare services to their community, such as diagnosing and prescribing for common conditions such as eye infections, urinary tract infections and others. I look forward to advancing this with pharmacies as the year progresses. This will make it easier for patients to be diagnosed more quickly, more conveniently, and to recover more quickly as we continue to expand GP services for a growing population.

"However, all charges by pharmacies must be more transparent and readily understood by patients. Today, that means dispensing fees - the price a pharmacist charges for their expert handling and preparation of medicine and advice to a patient.

"I recently met with the PSI to progress this issue and I am delighted to announce that the PSI has agreed to progress a programme of work to develop statutory guidelines aimed at improving patient access to information in respect of services provided by community pharmacies. This is something that has been recommended by the PSI and I am keen to work with them to enable it.

"I have huge ambition for the future of pharmacies, and I am committed to supporting the ongoing reform and expansion of pharmacy services.

"The expansion of Community Pharmacy services presents a real and meaningful opportunity for our health service on many fronts. It will significantly empower our pharmacy workforce and the public by increasing access to care in the community. It will also give community pharmacies opportunities to diversify their health service offerings, their business models and their revenue streams."

"I believe this is a proportionate response to the transparency issue. I hope pharmacies will support their patients, proactively, with clear information on the nature and quantum of charges levied. I will keep an open mind on this matter, and I will subsequently consider other opportunities including legislative intervention, if they are needed, to achieve this important public policy goal."

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