Pharmacy Roles and Responsibilities
This page contains information about role holder responsibilities within a registered pharmacy, including where there are requirements to notify changes and engage with the PSI.
Superintendent and supervising pharmacists
Pharmacies must appoint a superintendent pharmacist and supervising pharmacist as part of the registration requirements. We have information and guidance available about the roles and responsibilities of superintendent and supervising pharmacists, who must have the required experience to carry out these important patient safety roles within a pharmacy.
You must immediately notify the PSI if there are vacancies and changes to the post holders, as the holding of these positions is a condition of the registration of the pharmacy.
Notifying Changes in Superintendent Pharmacist and Supervising Pharmacist
A pharmacy owner cannot lawfully operate a pharmacy without a superintendent and supervising pharmacist. The pharmacy owner is required to immediately advise the PSI of a change in superintendent and supervising pharmacist. The information provided will ensure that the register kept by the PSI is updated to reflect the change in personnel.
Changes and appointments of supervising and superintendent pharmacists must be completed in the PSI online registration portal.
A detailed description of all steps of the process to appoint a supervising pharmacist can be found here.
What should a Superintendent and Supervising Pharmacist do?
The superintendent pharmacist and supervising pharmacist will be notified in their registration portal profile if they have been added or removed as a supervising or superintended pharmacist.
Extended Leave of Absence- Supervising Pharmacist
If a supervising pharmacist is on extended leave of absence, a new supervising pharmacist must be appointed. If you have any queries in relation to this, please email info@psi.ie
Requirements to be appointed Superintendent or Supervising Pharmacist
Requirement for a Supervising Pharmacist is contained in the Pharmacy Act, sections 27(c), 28(b) and 29(c) which state that at the premises where a retail pharmacy business is carried on, there must be “a registered pharmacist who has a 3 year minimum post-registration experience in whole time charge of the carrying on of the business there”.
Requirement for a Superintendent Pharmacist is contained in the Pharmacy Act, sections 27(b), 28(a) and 29(b) which state that in the carrying on of a retail pharmacy business “the part of the business that consists of the management and administration of the sale and supply of medicinal products is under the personal control of a registered pharmacist who has a 3 year minimum post-registration experience”.
The requirement for the 3 years minimum post-registration experience is further detailed in section 25 of the Pharmacy Act as meaning experience of at least 3 years practicing whole-time as a registered pharmacist in a retail pharmacy business or “practicing whole-time as a pharmacist outside the state in a business corresponding to a retail pharmacy business on foot of a qualification which was (or could have been) the qualification appropriate for practice by reference to which he or she has registered under the Act”.
Please note that the latter requirement implies, that if you had your qualification recognised in Ireland, and had to complete an adaptation period as part of this process, you must subsequently be registered as a pharmacist for a minimum of three years and comply with the other requirements listed, before you can be appointed as a supervising or superintendent pharmacist.
Company Secretary
Company secretaries, and those with legal authority for pharmacies, have responsibility to ensure the accuracy of the information provided to the PSI in the registration and continued registration of a pharmacy. Where a pharmacy is owned by a company or another type of corporate body as defined in the Companies Act 2014, continued registration of the pharmacy must be completed by the Company Secretary, a Director, or another person legally authorised to act on behalf of the pharmacy ownership. This ensures that the information provided has been approved by those who are legally responsible and accountable as the pharmacy owner. In particular, the Company secretary is responsible for ensuring the efficient administration of the company and must ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
Pharmacy continued registration is completed online by accessing the PSI online registration portal.