Under the new plans, women could renew prescriptions for short-acting contraceptives at community pharmacies without returning to a doctor each time
Ireland’s health minister has introduced legislation that would allow pharmacists to issue repeat contraception prescriptions, in a move designed to ease pressure on GPs and improve access to reproductive healthcare.
The bill would allow women aged 17 and over to renew prescriptions for short-acting contraceptives, including the oral contraceptive pill, transdermal patch and vaginal ring, at community pharmacies without returning to a GP each time. Women eligible under Ireland’s Free Contraception Scheme – currently those aged 17 to 35 – would receive the service at no cost. Those outside the scheme, including women aged 36 and over, would pay a locally determined fee.
The Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026, published on 26 June, amends three existing statutes – the Health Act 1970, the Irish Medicines Board Act 1995 and the Pharmacy Act 2007. Under proposed clinical protocols, women aged 17 to 39 would be required to see a GP at least once every five years, with those aged 40 and over attending every two years. High-risk patients and those for whom long-acting reversible contraception is most appropriate would remain under GP care.
