At present medical card holders must visit a GP before being given over-the-counter medicines at no charge JULIEN BEHAL/PAPharmacists should be allowed to reduce pressure on GP services by prescribing drugs for minor ailments themselves, their union has argued. The Irish Pharmacy Union said that nearly one million prescriptions a year were filled for medical card holders needing over-the-counter treatments. The union said that if those patients could access the drugs free of charge through their pharmacies it would free up hours of valuable GP time. There are 1.7 million medical card holders in Ireland, who need a prescription from their GP to get over-the-counter drugs for free. Darragh O’Loughlin, general secretary of the IPU, said change was vital as both doctor’s offices and hospitals were overcrowded and flu cases were rising.

Source: The Times January 08, 2018 00:05 UTC