Medical card holders treated at pharmacies from March

A pilot scheme that will see medical card holders treated for minor ailments at a pharmacy instead of a GP office is to be rolled out in March.

The aim of the scheme is to relieve GPs of some of the workload associated with the General Medical Services Scheme (GMS). The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) said it is estimated that minor ailments represent 18% of a GPs workload in the UK, costing the NHS some €2.5bn a year.

At present, GMS patients present at a GP surgery to obtain a prescription, even when the appropriate treatment is non-prescription medication.

The proposed Minor Ailment Scheme will enable medical card patients to receive treatment for minor ailments free of charge at their local pharmacy.