Pharmacy Practice Updates

 For other resources, please see the PSI Newsletter, Practice Guidance and Inspectors' advice.

2021

2020

• Important information about hand sanitisers

2019

• Vaccinations and emergency medicines

2018

• Open disclosure
• Employers responsibilities under health and safety legislation
• Falsified Medicines Directive – Medicines Authentication
• Opioid Substitution Therapy – Introduction of Buprenorphine or Buprenorphine/Naloxone
• Valsartan Medicines Recall: In July 2018, the HPRA issued a precautionary recall of some valsartan medicines, used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Further information on this recall is available on the HPRA website.
• Salbutamol Inhalers on List of Interchangeable Medicines
• PSI statement on food intolerance testing in pharmacies following HPRA market surveillance review of food intolerance tests

2017

• Preparing for the Children First Act for pharmacists and pharmacies from 11 December (child protection and safety legislation)
• Oral Methotrexate now included in HPRA’s Interchangeable List
• Misuse of Drug Regulations
• New Clinical Guidelines for Opioid Substitution Treatment

2016

• Important information on levonorgestrel for women taking liver enzyme inducers
• Changes to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme and advice about administration of liquid infant paracetamol
• Adrenaline Auto-Injectors – importance of patient education and advice
• Providing information and raising awareness of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
• Training and other information on new vaccinations and emergency medicines
• Pseudoephedrine- HPRA implement risk minimisation measures
• Storage of pharmacy-only medicines (regulations amended)
• List of authorised Controlled Drugs (CD 2, 3 and 4) updated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (see Guidance on Medicines)
• Professional Indemnity Insurance for Pharmacists

2015

• New Pharmacy Practice Guidance Folder
• Guidance for Pharmacists on Extemporaneous Dispensing 
• Reminder of ellaOne Guidance
• Alerts: prescription pad theft from the Blackrock Clinic, and use of forms from Northern Ireland to obtain medicines illegally
• Update and Guidance: Levonorgestrel 1500mcg emergency contraception

2014

• Paediatric Dispensing: Updated information on the use of ibuprofen in children and adolescents (December)
• Important new information on the Clinical Efficacy of Levonorgestrel and Ulipristal (August)
• Influenza Vaccination Service Guidance and Training Updates for 2014/2015 (August)
• Update on Domperidone (June and October)
• Vigilance in the Sale of Pseudoephedrine - Garda Request (June)
• Substitution of medicines not included in the HPRA (IMB) List of Interchangeable Medicines (May)
• Transparency in the Pricing of Prescription Medicines (April)
• Safe Supply of Enbrel (February)
• Lithium Information Packs (January)

2011

• PSI position on electronic cigarettes