• The Irish Drug Association formally registered the IPU. John Burke, (Irish Drug Association President ) was the founding member and Tom Miller became Chairman of the IPU.

  • The GMS commenced prior to the foundation of the IPU, at this time Pharmacists did not receive prescriptions as medicines were distributed by GP’s.

  • The first IPU offices were on located on 27 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

  • The First Secretary General, George Ledwith, was appointed in 1973 and held the position for six years.

1973

1973 - 1979

  • The First Secretary General, George Ledwith, was appointed in 1973 and held the position for six years.

  • On the 8 Sept the first IPU President, Commdt. Jim O’Farrell, was elected at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

  • The NEC set up the ‘Index list’ a comprehensive drug list now called Product File. In 1982 it moved to the first digital Microfiche format.

  • The FIP 35th World Congress of International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) was held for the first time in Ireland. The theme of the conference was ‘The Basis for the Quality Control of Medicines‘ 1600 delegates from 50 countries attended .

  • There was a near withdrawal of services from the GMS due to the proposed renumeration scheme. An Independent Review body was established and eventually the proposal was accepted in Feb 1975.

  • The first issue of IPU Review was printed in March 1976. Originally the IPU News, it was relaunched as the IPU Review in March 1976.

  • Several meetings were held with the Minister for Health, Charles J. Haughey with the IPU seeking to protect pharmacists renumeration. Talks included the Pharmaceutical Drug Federation and wholesales, Cahill May Roberts, United Drug and the Co-Op. A satisfactory outcome was eventually reached at the Shelbourne Hotel meeting with the renumeration being protected

    • 1979-1980

    1980

  • In 1980 the office moved from 27 Merrion Square to Main Street Dundrum, in South Dublin.

  • The Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 came into force which updates the law governing the relationships between consumers and suppliers of goods and services which impacted pharmacists.

  • In the summer of 1982 the withdrawal of 900 GMS non-prescription products caused much confrontation with the Department of Health. No prior consultation had been held with the Union.

  • Ireland hosted 17 EEC countries at the ‘Groupement Pharmaceutique de la Communate Europenne’ in October 1983 at a major pharmacy conference to review the state of the profession in Europe and plot the future of pharmacy.

  • The first 20 AnCO ‘Pharmacy Aide Programme‘ Staff Training Certificates were awarded. The first programme of its kind in the country.

  • Pharmacists express concern at the drop in GMS fees and the future solvency of the profession.

  • The IPU PCC and officers in the Department of Health meet to discuss the Unions claim for monetary and structural changes to the GMS.

  • New Late Night Rota service for Dublin was implemented, seeing pharmacies stay open until 9pm.

    • 1983-1984

    1986-1989

  • The original IPU logo was designed by Bernadine Birkett Gardner, The logo, based on St Bridget’s Cross, overlayed with an RX symbol. It first appeared on the IPU Yearbook in Autumn 1986.

  • The new logo was used for the first time on the cover of the IPU Review.

  • The first President’s Dinner was held in Dublin by the IPU President Mr David Butler.

  • The first National Pharmacy Exhibition, IPEX, set up by John Griffey, IPU Business Manager, this was held over 4 days in the RDS and 80 pharmaceutical companies attended.

  • The IPU acquired Butterfield House.. Members were levied £100 for the purchase of Butterfield House, there was some opposition to the purchase by trustees at a meeting in Portlaoise. There is strong evidence that Robert Emmet lived for a short period at the house before his execution in 1803.

  • The IPU launched its first national ‘Talking to your Pharmacist is good for your Health’ campaign. This was launched by the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Terry Leyden. The campaign was covered on national radio and newspapers, along with posters and leaflets.

  • Two years of intense negotiations lead to a comprehensive review of pharmacist’ involvement in the health services. The outcome was that The Health (Community Pharmacy Contractor Agreement) Regulations 1996 Pharmacy Contract was agreed with HSE.

  • A group was established representing Health Boards, GMS, Department of Health and the IPU CPC which resulted in recommendations on 1. A new act to replace that from 1972 focusing on professional role of the pharmacist 2. The Community Drug Scheme, 3. Provision of High-Tech Drugs & Issue of New Pharmacy Contracts.

  • The IPU Review celebrated 21 years since the first issue appeared.

  • The IPU and Fás Training launched the Pharmacy Sales Course, Loughlinstown, which was praised by the Minister for Health.

  • The IPU celebrated its 25th Anniversary.

  • In late 1998 Aegis Pharmaceuticals Limited, a buying group was established. This acted as a group buying co-operative structure to improve members competitive purchasing power.

  • The first graduation of the IPU Pharmacy Business course took place with the Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt in attendance. This was a collaboration between the IPU and Fás

    • 1994-1998

    2000-2002

  • The first female IPU President, Marie Hogan was elected in the union.

  • In October 2001, legislation was introduced restricting pack sizes of paracetamol sold OTC in an attempt to reduce self-poisonings and paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity.

  • In 2001 The first Pharmacy Technicians Qualified.

  • Irish Pharmacist, Mr Joe Power, became Ireland's first PGEU President.

  • In June 2021 Ireland welcomed its European Colleagues to Dublin for the second time for the annual PGEU conference with attendees from 27 European countries. The first PGEU conference in Ireland was in 1975.

  • The first pharmacy briefing took places for politicians in November 2022. This was for Both TS’s and Senators and has now become an annual event.

  • The Butterfield House extension was officially opened by Minister of State at the Department of Health & Children, Mr Tim O’Malley.

  • Deregulation of Pharmacies was introduced limiting the opening of pharmacies within a certain distance of each other.

  • The graduation from the first Pharmacy Technicians course took place at the National Museum of Ireland with 61 newly qualified technicians graduating.

  • The IPU had its first stand at the ‘Over 50’s Show’ in the RDS to promote the role of the pharmacists.

  • In October 2006 it was announced that the IPU would run a TV adverting campaign focusing on ‘Think Pharmacy First’.

    • 2003-2006

    2007-2008

  • The IPU name changed in Dec 2007 from the Irish Pharmaceutical Union to Irish Pharmacy Union.

  • In April 2007 the Pharmacy Bill was enacted made new provision for the regulation of pharmacy. A new PSI was established which provided a new system of registration of qualified pharmacists, creation of certain offences relating to pharmacy and the setting up of new procedures to ensure that pharmacists are and continue to be fit to practice, amongst other items.

  • The Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 488 of 2008) came into effect making patient consultation rooms mandatory.

  • The first IPU Pharmacy Conference took place in the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny.

  • The HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme Developed Emergency Contraception Campaign for pharmacies.

  • The Falsified Medicines Directive, a new EU law, was a patient safety initiative that introduced new requirements to prevent falsified medicines from entering the medicines supply chain but as a result, impacted the administration of the dispensing system across the EU.

  • In June the IPU Academy launched its first e-learning programme which covered Emergency Contraception which was supported by the HPRA.

    • 2011-2012

    2013 - 2019

  • FIP World Pharmacy Conference was held in Dublin for the second time. The theme of the conference was ‘Towards a future vision for complex patients: Integrated care in a dynamic continuum’.

  • The IPU Product File achieved ISO Certification for 9001 (Quality) and 27001 (Information Security).

  • An IPU pilot took place to detect ‘Hypertension & Atrial Fibrillation in the Community’ this was in partnership with Irish Heart Foundation.

  • The Product Catalogue was Rebranded to the National Health Products Catalogue (NHPC) and in 2021 the first web portal was developed.

  • Pharmacies got involved with National Covid Vaccination programme.

  • The Safe Pharmacy initiative was launched in July. Today there are 1,087 pharmacies signed up and in October 2023 it won the FIP Health Promotion Campaign award.

  • The Free Contraception Scheme was launched for women with further expansion of the scheme in 2023.

  • In June talks began with the department of health on the Restoration of Fees Campaign.

  • The IPU received a letter from the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, marking the 50th Anniversary of the IPU.

    • 2020-2023

    IPU

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