The publication of the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 is a foundational strategic shift that formally recognises and financially supports the expanded clinical role of the pharmacist. Backed by a new €75 million investment over 2025 and 2026, this agreement, negotiated with the IPU, provides the structure, funding and collaboration framework necessary to integrate community pharmacy fully into the future of Irish healthcare.
This is our mandate to move from a supply-centric model to a true patient-facing clinical service provider.
🔑 Core pillars of the new operating model
1. Expanded clinical service delivery
The agreement introduces, or formalises, several high-value clinical services, positioning the pharmacy as a first-line healthcare access point.
| Service focus | Key implementation detail | Strategic impact for pharmacy |
| Common Conditions Service | Launching late 2025/early 2026. Pharmacists will manage common conditions under established protocols, offering advice, self-care and the ability to supply Prescription-Only Medicines (POMs). | New fee-paying consultation revenue stream; formalised prescribing role; reduction in GP workload transference. |
| Oral contraception continuation | Community pharmacists will conduct clinical consultations and, where appropriate, continue prescriptions for short-acting reversible contraception. | Enhances pharmacist’s professional autonomy; addresses patient access gaps in primary care. |
| Public health and screening | Pharmacists will support the BowelScreen Programme by identifying eligible patients, promoting participation and facilitating the ordering of FIT kits. | Formal integration into national screening programmes; validates pharmacist as a public health advocate. |
| Immunisation expansion | Following success with Flu/COVID-19, the role expands to administering the PPV23 vaccine to healthy over 65-year-olds. | Cementing the pharmacy as a core site for vaccine delivery and disease prevention. |
| Unused medicines return | Establishment of a national service enabling safe and structured disposal of returned medicines. | Addresses a critical safety and environmental need; increases patient engagement opportunities. |
2. Digital integration and future readiness
Full-scale participation in national eHealth reforms is mandatory for a modern practice. The agreement prioritises digital streamlining:
- National e-Prescribing programme: The framework ensures cooperation for the successful and full integration of e-Prescribing, reducing dispensing errors and administrative overhead.
- Shared Care Record & Electronic Health Record (EHR): Pharmacists will be integral to the delivery and use of these systems, ensuring seamless patient information transfer across the care continuum.
- Administrative burden reduction: A dedicated work programme is set to streamline regulatory, administrative and process requirements, explicitly designed to increase patient-facing capacity for pharmacy teams.
3. Financial commitment and sustainability
The investment signals a clear commitment to the sustainability of the sector:
- €75 million new investment (2025-2026): This capital will be distributed through a combination of increased standard dispensing fees (across GMS, DPS, LTI, etc.) and once-off grants/supports for those who opt into the Agreement.
- The funding directly supports service development, fee adjustments and vital training for pharmacy teams, ensuring you are equipped to deliver the new clinical roles.
🤝 Collaboration and advocacy
The agreement establishes a Strategic Collaboration Group. This formal, structured forum for dialogue between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IPU ensures that pharmacists have a direct, enduring voice in shaping the design and implementation of current and future community pharmacy services.
Review the full agreement on the Department of Health’s website. Success relies on operational readiness, team training and leveraging the new grants to develop your service portfolio. The 2025 Agreement is your opportunity to invest in your professional future and solidify the pharmacy’s position as an indispensable first-line healthcare provider.