Patients in the Republic of Ireland can now claim tax relief on the cost of certain pharmacy services, the country’s government has announced.
It said that from March 12, a tax relief of 20% can be claimed on expenses from healthcare provided by community pharmacists under the Common Conditions Service.
The service, launched on January 19, allows pharmacists to give advice and prescribe for eight health conditions: allergic rhinitis, cold sores, conjunctivitis, impetigo, oral thrush, shingles, uncomplicated urinary tract infection and vaginal thrush.
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The government said the service frees up GP appointments “for more complex needs”, and over 94% of Ireland’s community pharmacies have signed up to provide it by the end of this March.
People could previously claim tax relief on expenses for healthcare, including GP visits and medicines prescribed by a GP, it added, but this is now being extended to include costs incurred after using the Common Conditions Service at pharmacies.
“Putting patients first”
Tánaiste and minister for finance Simon Harris TD said the move “will ensure that these individuals will be able to claim the same tax relief as they are currently able to avail of when visiting their GP”.
The new Common Conditions Service “is an important part of our Programme for Government commitment to further expand the services provided by pharmacists, recognising Irish pharmacists as highly trained, well-educated healthcare professionals,” he added.
And he said allowing people to claim tax relief after using the service will give people across Ireland “faster access to trusted healthcare, while ensuring GP and hospital appointments are available for people with more complex health needs”.
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Minister for health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the tax relief expansion “is about putting patients first and supporting them to prioritise their health and wellbeing”.
She added that she is grateful to Harris and colleagues in Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners “for bringing this forward and ensuring patients benefit from timely, high-quality treatment provided by our community pharmacists under the Common Conditions Service”.
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It comes after Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk announced that it has invested €432 million in its Ireland facility to boost the manufacture of “current and future” GLP-1 medicines.
The company said the upgraded “tabletting facility” in Athlone, Republic of Ireland, will “provide significant additional manufacturing capacity” for its “current and future” GLP-1 treatments.
