94% of Community Pharmacies sign up for the new Common Conditions Service
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Available in over 1,800 (94%) participating pharmacies across Ireland, the new Common Conditions Service (CCS) will improve affordable and fast access to community-based healthcare.
With the official launch of the service this week, Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“I am pleased to see such a strong response from pharmacies nationwide with over 1,800 pharmacies signing up for the new Common Conditions Service. More than 2,500 professionals have completed the core training modules, reflecting the dedication and commitment of those working in the pharmacy sector to supporting patients and strengthening frontline care.
"This service will have a really positive impact in local communities and will mean that patients will get faster access to treatment, closer to home.
“The Department of Health will continue to work closely with pharmacy representatives and service providers to ensure the successful roll-out of the Common Conditions Service and to support improved, convenient access to care for people in every part of Ireland.”
The Service is a confidential fee-based consultation service delivered and provided by pharmacists. It is designed to make it easier and quicker for members of the public to get advice and treatment for eight common minor health conditions.
To support access to the service, the public can find details of their nearest participating pharmacy using the Pharmacy Finder Tool.
Further details are available at gov.ie/CommonConditionsService
Notes to Editor:
In August 2024, the Minister for Health established a Community Pharmacy Expansion Implementation Oversight Group (IOG) to implement recommendations from the Expert Taskforce. The Common Conditions Service (CCS) has been developed following recommendations by the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy. The role of the Taskforce was to identify and support the delivery of specific health measures by pharmacists, and pharmacies to members of the public.
The IOG is made up of representatives from each of the key stakeholders and has worked over the last year to put the enablers in place to facilitate community pharmacists to establish common condition services in their own pharmacies. This has included the development and delivery of training for pharmacists, overseeing the development of the necessary secondary legislation, and preparing communications to inform the public of this change.
In November 2025, the Minister for Health signed new regulations under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 enabling pharmacists to provide treatment for eight specified common conditions.
Of the 1,912 community pharmacies in Ireland, a total of 1,802 pharmacies have signed up to provide the Common Conditions Service.
As of 16 January 2026, 2,514 pharmacists had received certification for completing the Core Module training, while 1,811 had obtained certification for completing the Condition-Specific Module training on the eight Common Conditions. Pharmacists have until 31 March 2026 to complete training and commence the service at their pharmacy.
A consultation fee applies for all patients availing of the CCS which will be set by the pharmacy. Pharmacies should be transparent about any fees involved in the service before providing the service to an individual patient in line with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the pharmacy regulator’s Guidance to Support Transparency of Medicines Pricing and Fees for Pharmacy Services.
The eight common conditions are:
- Allergic rhinitis
- Cold sores
- Conjunctivitis
- Impetigo
- Oral thrush (mouth thrush)
- Shingles
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs)/Cystitis
- Vulvovaginal thrush