Pharmacist staff at the HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) are working under “significant pressure” because of resource challenges, this newspaper has learned.
The CPU is the interface between the HSE and the pharmaceutical industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement applications and the operation of the national pricing framework agreements.
At a meeting of the HSE drugs group in February, members “acknowledged” the CPU resource challenges. Meeting minutes also noted the resignation of the Head of the CPU who had taken up an opportunity external to the HSE.
This position is currently vacant, a HSE spokesperson told the Medical Independent.
The spokesperson added that the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) 2024 referenced a new service development plan to recruit additional resources into the CPU.
“Pending the recruitment of the NSP 2024 approved posts and the vacant head of unit post, there is significant pressure on existing pharmacist staff arising out of the day-to-day operational workload which the HSE CPU delivers on behalf of the HSE.”
The spokesperson said the Executive’s drugs group acknowledged the resource constraints under which the CPU staff were working. “Notwithstanding…the acknowledgement under NSP 2024 of the necessity for additional resources, the existing expert staff in CPU have mitigated any risks to the drugs group from the current resources gaps.”
The meeting of the drugs group also discussed plans to expand membership to include other specialities.
The HSE’s spokesperson confirmed that the drugs group is reflecting on its membership, “in keeping with best practice with respect to continuous improvement”.
“At the meeting in March [the group] discussed potential competencies or expertise in new members that might be of benefit to the group. Decisions in relation to the addition of new members to the drugs group would be made by the HSE senior leadership team,” they added.
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