Public consultation on guidance in support of pricing transparency in pharmacies
This public consultation will be open until 17 August. It offers the opportunity to give feedback on draft guidance developed for pharmacies, which aims to promote transparent pricing of medicines supplied on prescription and professional pharmacy service fees.
About this public consultation
Our role as the pharmacy regulator is to assure the safety and quality of pharmacy services, as well as the profession of pharmacy, in the public interest.
While the PSI does not determine the prices charged by pharmacies, we do expect that pharmacies are transparent about the costs and fees associated with the dispensing of medicines and pharmacy services. Availability of clear information, including about the costs for healthcare services, medicines and medical devices, supports people in making informed decisions about their health and treatment.
This consultation provides the opportunity to consider a draft guidance document that intends to support further transparency about prices and fees in pharmacies. The document is aimed for use by those providing pharmacy services, but its implementation and effectiveness is relevant to anyone who attends a community pharmacy for professional healthcare services.
Background information
In April this year, the Minister for Health formally requested that the PSI develop guidance aimed at improving patient access to information on the fees that they pay for products they are dispensed and the services provided by community pharmacies.
The Minister requested that this guidance include detail on:
- “the range and quantum of professional service and dispensing fees charged (e.g. in a conspicuous location)
- at the point of dispensing on the range of professional service and dispensing fees and medicine/product costs charges to patients (e.g. itemised receipts), and the embedding of this approach into the PSI’s monitoring processes.”
On our website, the PSI has previously published guidance about pricing transparency that was issued to pharmacists. We have reviewed and built on this as appropriate to deliver on the Minister’s request.
The development of the draft guidance that we are now consulting on has been informed by engagement activities with the following groups and organisations:
- Meeting with the Patient Sub-Group of the Community Pharmacy Expansion Implementation Oversight Group
- Direct patient engagement through telephone interviews
- A workshop with the PSI Pharmacist Panel
- Meeting with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU)
- Meeting with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)
- Meeting with the Pharmacy Software Vendors
The PSI Council considered and approved this draft guidance for public consultation at its meeting on the 26 June 2025.
The PSI appreciates the time, expertise and assistance of all who contributed to the development of this consultation draft.
Dispensing a prescription is one of several professional services pharmacists and pharmacies provide to patients and the public. Pharmacists are medicines experts and possess a unique skillset and expertise relating to the best use of medicines.
There are a number of steps involved in the dispensing process including technical operational processes, and cognitive assessment including clinical assessment, to assure the therapeutic appropriateness of a medicine for a particular patient.
When a pharmacist receives a prescription for dispensing, they must use their knowledge, judgement and technical expertise in medicines to underpin the review of the prescription to ensure it is safe and appropriate as prescribed for the individual patient. The pharmacist reviews any medication history available to them, checks for any potential interactions with other medicines a patient might be taking, and any allergies that may be present. They may also need to communicate with the prescriber to discuss any queries or concerns they may have, including about whether the medicine prescribed is appropriate, or to raise potential safety concerns they have identified. Ultimately, a pharmacist ensures that the correct dose, and the correct amount of the correct medicine is safely provided to a patient and they support the safe use of the medicine by the patient.
A pharmacist also ensures that the patient understands what their medicine is for, how to take their medicine correctly, and how to store the medicine. They may raise concerns about a patient’s adherence to their medicine. They advise patients on any potential side-effects of the medicine and the actions to take if they occur, as well as any other necessary precautions which may need to be taken.
Dispensing a medicine is a professional service provided by a pharmacist, for which a fee may be charged, either to the individual patient or through the state schemes which support patient health.
What are the main proposals to consider in the guidance?
The guidance provides a principle-based approach to support pharmacists, pharmacy owners and pharmacy teams in understanding expectations regarding the provision of pricing information to patients and the public.
It sets out one primary principle: Patients have a right to transparent and accurate information on the price of the medicines and health services they access in pharmacies. Transparency of fees and pricing maintains and enhances public confidence in pharmacists and enables patients to make informed decisions about their health and treatment.
The guidance also indicates how pharmacies can meet their obligations under relevant legislative requirements and the statutory Code of Conduct for pharmacists.
Pharmacists and pharmacy owners are expected to meet the responsibilities outlined in this guidance when charging for medicines or pharmacy services.
It is hoped that the guidance will facilitate both pharmacies and patients by:
- Clarifying expectations for the display and communication of prices for commonly provided services (e.g., dispensing fees, emergency contraception, vaccinations).
- Providing distinct information in respect of the costs of medicines versus the cost of services.
- Encouraging proactive communication of costs to patients prior to the provision of services.
- Supporting consistency in how pricing information is presented across pharmacies, while allowing for professional discretion and operational differences.
- Complementing the PSI’s Code of Conduct.
Where can I find more information?
Review the full text of the draft Guidance to Support Transparency of Medicines Pricing and Fees for Pharmacy Services.
How can I provide feedback?
We would like to hear from anyone interested in, or impacted by, the draft guidance. Please review the information and guidance provided and share your feedback with us.
You can provide your feedback can to us by 5pm on Friday, 17 August in one of the following ways:
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Online Questionnaire
The fastest way to provide your feedback is by completing this online consultation survey.
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Email
You can also provide your feedback by email to ptgconsultation@psi.ie.
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Post
Alternatively, you can send us your feedback by post to: Pricing Transparency Guidance Consultation, PSI-The Pharmacy Regulator, PSI House, 15-19 Fenian Street, D02 TD72.
What will we do with your feedback?
After the consultation closing date, the PSI will assess and collate all feedback. We will draft a consultation report that will be considered by the PSI Council and published later on our website. Any further changes proposed to the draft guidance from the consultation feedback, will be reviewed and decided on by the PSI Council.
Data Protection and Freedom of Information
The information provided to PSI consultations will be stored in a secure and confidential manner by the PSI, it will only be used for the purposes outlined and it will be deleted in line with the PSI’s record retention policy. After each public consultation we publish a consultation report on this website that contains a summary of comments received, the PSI response to those, and a list of any organisations that have given their feedback, where provided. Please note that submissions made to the PSI as part of public consultations are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
