The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) has called for the post of Chief Pharmacist at the Department of Health and Children - which has been vacant for the last 3 years - to be filled.
The call comes in the pharmacy regulator's annual report which has been published today.
The PSI claims the non-filling of the post is hindering the development of pharmacy policy in the State.
It presented its 68 page report,
Advancing Clinical Pharmacy Practice to Deliver Better Patient Care and Added Value Services, to the Minister for Health Mary Harney this morning.
It looks at how pharmacy could be more integrated into the overall health system and contribute to a patient's health and wellbeing.
PSI President Brendan Hayes said pharmacy was the first point of contact for most patients and members of the public seeking advice, care and treatment.
CEO and PSI registrar Dr Ambrose McLoughlin said pharmacies in other countries were 'adding significant value.'
"Most jurisdictions, including the UK, are utilising evidence-based approaches in the reform of their services, with pharmacy seen to have increasing potential to support home care, self care and effective care at the lowest levels of cost and complexity," he said.
The report says the HSE should reconsider its policy which currently has not identified a role for community pharmacy in chronic disease management even though the evidence base supports the clinical benefits and cost effectiveness of the locally-based route.
Pharmacists claim this would benefit the patient, free-up GPs and create savings for the health service.