Launch of Public Consultation on Draft Guidance to Support Enhanced Price Transparency in Pharmacies
The PSI has announced the launch of a public consultation on draft guidance to support enhanced transparency on the pricing of medicines, fees and professional services in pharmacy so that patients and the public can make informed decisions about their health and treatment. It is now inviting feedback on the draft guidance from members of the public, pharmacists, pharmacy owners, healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups and other stakeholders.
As the pharmacy regulator, the PSI is committed to assuring the safety and quality of pharmacy services in the public interest, and in upholding confidence in pharmacy. Pharmacists, as healthcare professionals and experts in medicines, charge a range of fees for the services they provide. While the PSI does not determine the prices charged by pharmacies, the regulator expects pharmacies are transparent about the costs and fees associated with the dispensing of medicines and for pharmacy services.
In April this year, the PSI was requested by the Minister for Health to consider the development of appropriate guidance so that patients have an improved understanding of the fees that they pay in respect of the products they are dispensed and the services they use in pharmacies. The draft guidance, developed in response to the Minister’s request, builds upon previously published direction to pharmacists on this topic.
The draft guidance adopts a principles-based approach to support pharmacists, pharmacy owners and pharmacy teams in meeting expectations around the provision of pricing information to patients and the public. It also intends to be aligned and consistent with pharmacists’ obligations under the PSI Code of Conduct.
PSI Registrar and Chief Officer, Joanne Kissane (pictured), said: “The PSI considers that transparency in pricing for patients and members of the public is desirable as an aid to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their care. We are pleased to bring this draft guidance to public consultation stage and strongly encourage members of the public, pharmacists, pharmacy owners and all stakeholders across the pharmacy and wider healthcare system to take the opportunity to review the guidance and provide feedback.
“The purpose of the guidance is to support pharmacists and pharmacy owners in meeting expectations around pricing transparency and to make clear their obligations under relevant legislation and the pharmacists’ Code of Conduct.
“As pharmacy practice expands to provide more healthcare services to patients in the community, there is benefit in clarifying what should be displayed and communicated about prices and fees for professional pharmacy services.
“The PSI will consider all views and feedback we receive during this public consultation so that we can meet the overall objective of the guidance, which is to ensure that people will have an improved understanding in respect of the fees they pay.”
The consultation will remain open until midnight on Sunday 17 August 2025. All feedback will be considered, and this may inform further changes to the guidance before a decision by the PSI Council (PSI board) to rollout the guidance later this year.
For more information and to participate in the consultation and including how you can submit feedback, please visit https://www.psi.ie/about-psi/what-we-do/public-consultations/public-consultation-guidance-support-pricing-transparency
