Some pharmacists are calling on the government to allow them prescribe medication to alleviate pressure on the health system.
Incoming Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been written to, asking for a change in the law so pharmacies can issue medication for illnesses like conjunctivitis and shingles.
He's also being urged to allow chemists give medical card patients over-the-counter medication without a GP's prescription.
Pharmacist Sheena Mitchell says the changes would help under-pressure doctors:
"Basically at the moment, we know we're under an awful lot of pressure. Our medical system, our health system is breaking. I have a lot of patients who can't get access to GPs for appointments for simple, simple conditions. So what we're looking for, is for the introduction of a Patient Group Direction System. This is used in the UK going back as far as 2006".
