Ireland’s pharmacy sector is facing continued scrutiny around medicines access, dispensing accuracy and service quality, according to newly reported regulatory data that also points to expanding community pharmacy capabilities.

The latest figures from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) show that complaints received during 2025 included dispensing errors, medicine supply failures and concerns relating to behaviour and service standards within pharmacy settings.

Other reported issues included cases involving out-of-date medicines and concerns regarding emergency medicine availability.

In total, 48 formal complaints were received during the year, while a broader category of operational and practice-related concerns accounted for 185 recorded matters requiring review and follow-up actions.

Regulatory oversight activity also remained active across the sector. Committees of Inquiry initiated hearings across multiple cases involving pharmacists and retail pharmacy businesses, resulting in sanctions ranging from conditions and censure to registration cancellations in more serious matters.

Alongside complaint management, the regulator reported continued growth across Ireland’s pharmacy workforce and infrastructure.

By the end of 2025, more than 7,900 pharmacists and approximately 2,000 pharmacies were registered nationally, reflecting ongoing expansion in community healthcare capacity.

International workforce participation also increased following implementation of an updated qualification recognition pathway for pharmacists trained outside the EU and EEA, with applications rising significantly year on year.

Inspection and compliance activity remained a central focus, with hundreds of pharmacy premises reviewed and additional investigations launched where potential public safety concerns or serious non-compliance risks were identified.

At the same time, Ireland continues to broaden the clinical role of pharmacists within primary care.

Nearly 4,000 pharmacists have now completed training linked to the Common Conditions Service, enabling expanded treatment capabilities and allowing participating pharmacists to provide prescription medicines for selected conditions where appropriate.

For the pharmaceutical and pharmacy sectors, the findings reinforce the growing importance of quality assurance, supply continuity and workforce readiness as community pharmacy services continue to evolve.

Read more about Ireland’s pharmacy regulatory developments and medicines access trends in the original report.