Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2026
370. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of community pharmacies participating in the common conditions service; the findings to date of the data collection exercise involving the 150 data champion pharmacies which commenced in July 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53755/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Common Conditions Service (CCS) is an important initiative, intended to expand the role of primary care and make healthcare more widely accessible, in line with Sláintecare objectives. Despite having only launched in January 2026, the CCS has seen a broad uptake by pharmacies across the country.
As of May 2026, 1,827 pharmacies had signed up to take part in the service, accounting for over 95% of pharmacy businesses in operation.
As part of the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025, 150 community pharmacies taking part in the CCS would also be considered Data Champions. These Data Champions have agreed to record data relevant to the running of the service, and provide feedback on how well the service is being implemented.
This data is still in the process of being recorded, collected and will be analysed at a future date. My department is also currently organising an in-person focus group, intended to allow Data Champions to share their insights on the CCS, improve our understanding of how the service is operating on the ground, and inform future surveys of participants.
