Frequently Asked Questions

Brexit

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I am currently enrolled in a pharmacy degree programme in the UK. When I graduate will my qualification be recognised by the PSI following Brexit?

Yes, the PSI has three routes of qualification recognition: national route, EU/EEA route, and third country route. After 1 January 2021, and until further notice, those applicants holding a qualification gained in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland, which would, but for the fact that these are no longer members of the European Union, be subject to Automatic Recognition under the Professional Qualifications Directive, and who can satisfy the PSI of this, may be able to proceed to recognition in a one step process under Rule 18 (1). The new form for applying via this route is available on this website.
I am registered with the PSI, but I obtained my pharmacy qualification in the UK. Is this still recognised following Brexit?

Pharmacists with a UK qualification already recognised and registered in Ireland by the PSI will continue to be registered once they are compliant with the PSI's continued registration requirements. All registered pharmacists must apply for continued registration annually, regardless of where their qualification was obtained.

Further information for anyone who holds, or is studying for, a UK qualification in pharmacy and would like to register with the PSI is available on our website.
I hold a UK qualification in pharmacy, but I am not currently registered with the PSI. Will I be allowed to register in Ireland following Brexit?

The PSI has three routes of qualification recognition: national route, EU/EEA route, and third country route. After Brexit you may still have your qualification recognised. From 1 January 2021 all UK and Northern Ireland applicants will be required to apply via the Third Country route. After this date, and until further notice, those applicants holding a qualification gained in the UK or NI, which would, but for the fact that these are no longer members of the European Union, be subject to Automatic Recognition under the Professional Qualifications Directive, and who can satisfy the PSI of this, may be able to proceed to recognition in a one step process under Rule 18 (1). The new form for applying via this route is available on this website.
My child is planning to enroll in a UK pharmacy degree programme in September 2020. Will they be allowed to register as a pharmacist in Ireland when they graduate?

From 1 January 2021 all UK and Northern Ireland applicants will be required to apply via the Third Country route. After this date, and until further notice, those applicants holding a qualification gained in the UK or NI, which would, but for the fact that these are no longer members of the European Union, be subject to Automatic Recognition under the Professional Qualifications Directive, and who can satisfy the PSI of this, may be able to proceed to recognition in a one step process under Rule 18 (1). The new form for applying via this route is available on this website.
Will the UK recognise my Irish pharmacy degree and allow me to register/remain registered?

The Department of Health and Social Care in the UK has introduced the European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. It sets out what will happen in relation to the recognition of professional qualifications obtained in the EU (i.e. Ireland).

Pharmacists wishing to practice in Northern Ireland should contact the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

Pharmacists wishing to practice in England, Scotland, and Wales should contact the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Further information on Brexit matters in the UK can be found on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society website.
Is a prescription written by a UK registered doctor legally valid to dispense in Ireland following Brexit?
Yes. The Department of Health has amended the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003(as amended), to enable the recognition of prescriptions written in the UK by registered medical practitioners, registered dentists and registered nurse prescribers, including midwife prescribers, for dispensing in the State. The Regulations came into effect on 1 January 2021. This is on the provision that the prescription has not been issued with a view to enabling the supply of a medicine by mail order and the prescription has not been issued by means of information society services (Further information can be found below).

The prescription must meet the same legal requirements, as those already in place for a prescription issued by a relevant practitioner practicing in another EEA state.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct for Pharmacists, a pharmacist must always put the patient first and make their health, wellbeing and safety his or her primary focus. As well as the requirements detailed in the legislation, the pharmacist must be satisfied as to the authenticity, content and, more importantly, that it is safe and appropriate to dispense the medicine for the individual patient. If the prescription does not meet the legal requirements or you are not satisfied that the medicine is appropriate for the patient, you should explain this to the patient and refer them to another appropriate healthcare professional or service for further care.
In addition, please note:
- The original prescription must be presented in the pharmacy. A fax or scanned copy of a prescription is not a legally valid prescription. Electronic prescriptions are not currently supported by the current legislation in Ireland.
- Products classified as schedule 2, schedule 3 or schedule 4 part 1 controlled drugs may not be prescribed by practitioners registered in the UK for dispensing in Ireland, and such prescriptions may not be used to authorise the supply of any such controlled drug.
- The product prescribed must be licensed in Ireland.
What does it mean if a prescription cannot be issued “by means of information society services and for the purpose of enabling the supply of a medicinal product by mail order”?

In practice this means that cross-border telemedicine services is prohibited by law. For example, a prescription that comes from an online doctor service where the prescriber is based in the UK will no longer be valid for dispensing in a pharmacy registered in Ireland.

It is up to the pharmacist to use their professional judgement to identify any prescriptions that fall into this category. This could be done, for example, by discussing with the patient the method of consultation, and using the work address, email address and telephone number of the person issuing the prescription (as required for a valid prescription from a doctor registered in the EEA or UK).
My pharmacy is listed on Part A of the PSI’s Internet Supply List, can I still sell and supply non-prescription medicines via my pharmacy’s website to customers in the UK after Brexit?

No. It is prohibited (as per Regulation 19A(8) of the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 (as amended)) to sell and supply non-prescription medicines at a distance by means of information society services to a member of the public in the UK. This prohibits the sale or supply of non-prescription medicines over the internet from a pharmacy listed on part A of the PSI’s Internet Supply List, or a non-pharmacy listed on Part B of the of the Internet Supply List to a patient/customer in the UK (as is currently the case for supply to a customer in a country outside the EEA).
We provide a TPN service in our pharmacy and some of our patients are under the care of UK hospitals but are resident in Ireland. Can we provide this cross-border provision of care?

Yes. Access to cross-border health services are all part of Government contingency planning with the latest information available on Gov.ie.
Is there shortages of medicines because of Brexit?

Brexit has not had any immediate impact on the supply of medicines as there are already additional stocks of medicines routinely built into the Irish medicine supply chain. The Department of Health, together with the HPRA, the HSE and many others, continues working to protect the availability of medicines for Irish patients, acknowledging the extent of medicines moved through the UK to get to Ireland.

Ireland is unlikely to face general medicine supply issues while normal use of medicines is maintained. The Department of Health has clearly stated that hospitals, pharmacists or patients should not order extra quantities of medicines, and doctors should not issue multiple prescriptions for the same medication. The impact of doing so will have a knock-on effect on managing existing stock levels and hamper the supply of medicines for other patients. All involved must balance the interests of their patients and wider society where challenges may arise. Pharmacists and other health professionals have an important role to play in providing accurate information to people to avoid disruption and aid understanding of Ireland’s medicines supply arrangements.

Shortages exist already in the market, without any relation to Brexit. The HPRA’s Medicine Shortages Framework will continue to be used to manage these shortages and seek to reduce the impact on patients and healthcare professionals.

Access to cross-border health services and validity of UK prescriptions are all part of Government contingency planning with the latest information available on www.gov.ie/Brexit
Where can I go for further information?
- The PSI’s dedicated Brexit webpage will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
- The Department of Health has published information for members of the public regarding healthcare and Brexit.
- The HSE has published information about getting treatment abroad and cross border.
- You can find the latest news and advice on the Government’s website.
- The HPRA has a dedicated webpage for information related to Brexit and the health products they regulate.