Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
658. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if phased dispensing will still be provided free of charge for patients at the request of their physician; whether the HSE expects this to take place for many existing patients; when the approved list of medications will be provided in these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73443/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPhased dispensing support is currently available for medical card holders under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme for the following reasons:
1. at the request of a patient's physician.
2. due to the inherent nature of a medicinal product i.e. product stability and shelf life.
3. where a patient is commencing new drug therapy with a view to establishing patient tolerance and acceptability before continuing on a full treatment regime.
4. in exceptional circumstances where the patient is incapable of safely and effectively managing the medication regimen.
Under the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025, phased dispensing under reason 1 and 4 will be limited to a defined set of high-risk medication classes. These are:
- Psychotropics;
- Opioids;
- Codeine; and
- Pregabalin and gabapentin.
The approved list of medications can be found in the following HSE circular: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/pcrs/circulars/pharmacy/pharmacy-circular-019-25-phased-dispensing.pdf
For reasons 1 and 4, by focusing phased dispensing reimbursement on the medication categories on the approved list, phased dispensing payments can be targeted to medications with the highest risk or potential for misuse. Phased dispensing fees will remain payable as per current arrangements under reasons 2 and 3 and will not be subject to the approved list.
These changes, which were due to come into effect in January 2026, have now been paused till later in quarter 1 of 2026.
