Since 31 March 2026, trained Irish pharmacists can assess and treat eight common conditions — and prescribe for some of them — without you needing a GP appointment. Here's what that covers, how it works, and when you still need a doctor.
Ireland's Common Conditions Service — often called "Pharmacy First" — lets a trained community pharmacist deal with a defined list of everyday conditions on the spot. For the conditions on that list, you can walk into a participating pharmacy, be assessed, and where appropriate be given treatment, including prescription-only medicines through agreed protocols, without first seeing a GP. It was enabled by regulations under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 and rolled out to the public by participating pharmacies by 31 March 2026.
Under the Common Conditions Service, a participating pharmacist who has completed the required training can assess and, where clinically appropriate, treat:
| Condition | Everyday name |
|---|---|
| Allergic rhinitis | Hay fever / nasal allergies |
| Herpes labialis | Cold sores |
| Conjunctivitis | Eye infection / "pink eye" |
| Impetigo | Bacterial skin infection (common in children) |
| Oral candidiasis | Oral thrush |
| Herpes zoster | Shingles |
| Vulvovaginal candidiasis | Vaginal thrush |
| Uncomplicated UTI / cystitis | Bladder infection — see the full UTI guide |
The list and the rules around each condition are set nationally and can change. Your pharmacist works to the current clinical protocols. This page is a guide, not the protocol itself.
Cost and eligibility depend on your circumstances — whether you hold a medical card or GP visit card, the specific condition, and the pharmacy. The fairest thing to do is ask the pharmacy directly before you're treated, and check the current rules on the HSE Common Conditions Service page. For how the medical card and GP visit card affect what you pay across all of this, see our access guides.
Good fit: a flare of one of the eight conditions, you're otherwise well, and you'd rather not wait days for a GP slot. The pharmacy is often same-day and close by.
Not a fit: anything outside the list, symptoms that are severe, spreading fast, or not improving, a high temperature, problems in pregnancy, or a condition you've had repeatedly. In those cases see a GP, an online doctor, or urgent care. For a genuine emergency, call 999 or 112 or go to an Emergency Department.
Not every pharmacy offers the service yet — a pharmacy needs at least one pharmacist who has completed the PSI (Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland) training. Many community pharmacies have signed up. The simplest check is to ring your local pharmacy and ask whether they deliver the Common Conditions Service, or look for signage in-store.
This summary draws on the Department of Health announcement of the prescribing regulations under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, the PSI's Common Conditions Service information, and the HSE's public service page. Confirm current specifics with your pharmacist or the HSE before relying on them.
The 8 conditions a pharmacist can treat — in detail →
How to get UTI / cystitis treatment without a GP in Ireland →
How to see a doctor in Ireland — all your options, plainly →