Temporary and occasional service provision

Under EU legislation EEA qualified pharmacists can work in Ireland on a temporary and occasional basis. They do not make a full application for registration as required by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Registration Rules) 2008. Instead these pharmacists names are entered in Part B “ Visiting Pharmacists from Relevant EEA States”.

What is temporary and occasional services?

In Ireland, temporary and occasional service provision is governed by European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017, which gives effect to Directive 2005/36/EC.

A number of criteria must be meet before a pharmacist, registered and established in another EEA State is eligible to provide services on a temporary and occasional basis. These are:

  1. The applicant must be a national of a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland, or hold European Community rights.
  2. The applicant must be currently established and allowed to practise as a pharmacist without restriction in another EEA state.
  3. The applicant must intend only to provide service in a temporary and occasional capacity, and not to be established in Ireland.

Temporary and occasional service provision is assessed on a case by case basis under specific parameters laid down by the Professional Qualifications Directive. These parameters are:

  • Duration
  • Frequency
  • Regularity
  • Continuity

The description of service is assessed against these parameters to assess on an individual basis if the service is being provided on a case by case basis.

Further information on the provisions of temporary and occasional service provision is available. If the host state can positively prove that a person is actually established on its territory, then an applicant may not be able to avail of the rules for temporary and occasional service provision. A person is established when s/he settles in a Member State in a stable and lasting way. You may be established in more than one Member State at any given time.

How do I apply to provide temporary and occasional services?

Route One – Declarations to PSI

Eligible European qualified pharmacists may submit an application to provide services on a temporary and occasional basis by completing a declaratory statement, satisfying language requirements and having their name subsequently entered in Part B “ Visiting Pharmacists from Relevant EEA States” of the Register. The form to provide declarations, and information regarding the required supporting documentation is available. Subsequent to completing and submitting the required form the PSI will assess the application and revert to confirm the individuals entitlement to provide services.

Route Two – European Professional Certificate

Eligible European qualified pharmacists may choose to apply via the Internal Market Information (IMI) system to provide services on a temporary and occasional basis. Their documents are verified and authenticated by the home EEA member state competent authority who is also responsible for issuing the European Professional Card (EPC) to the European qualified pharmacist. No checks of the pharmacist’s identity, qualifications or fitness to practise will be carried out by the PSI. If the EEA Member State competent authority issues a ‘valid’ EPC for temporary and occasional services to a European qualified pharmacist, the holder is entitled to provide temporary and occasional services in Ireland, and subsequent to complying with language competence requirements the PSI gives effect to this entitlement by entering the pharmacist’s name in Part B “ Visiting Pharmacists from Relevant EEA States”.