Minister for Health Simon Harris has signed two statutory instruments to relieve some of the pressures on our GPs, pharmacists and patients in accessing prescriptions.
The Minister signed the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 allowing for the electronic transfer of prescriptions to a pharmacy via an approved electronic system: the HSE’s Healthmail system.
In addition, the maximum period of validity of a prescription is increased from 6 months to 9 months as of the date specified on the prescription.
Some temporary changes to the way in which prescriptions can be repeated are also being introduced to enable pharmacists to ensure the continuity of care of patients without necessarily requiring a new prescription.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
