The Irish Pharmacy Union is calling on Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to provide extra funding in Budget 2020 to allow pharmacies to expand their services and free up GP waiting lists.
Kathy Maher, IPU spokesperson and community pharmacist, says GPs are "under immense pressure, and that's only set to increase as our population ages and we deal with things such as chronic disease."
She adds that an estimated one in five GP appointments are spent on minor ailments which could be easily dealt with by pharmacists, and that an expansion of pharmacy services would be "a win-win" for doctors, patients and pharmacies.
She was joined on The Last Word by Dr Ray Walley, weekly contributor to our medical slot, who gave his own perspective on the issue as a GP.
Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page.
