PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis), and medicines used to treat HIV, had been dealt with and dispensed exclusively in a hospital setting. Mail order delivery of medicines in Ireland was, and remains, illegal.
When PrEP became available on prescription in Ireland in December 2017, this was the first time Antiretrovirals (ARTs) had been dealt with in community pharmacies. As head pharmacist with Meaghers Pharmacy (pronounced Mars, like the chocolate bar for those of you who wondered!) it was really important for us to ensure we dealt with this development correctly. We set about meeting with the GMHS who ensured that our pharmacists were aware of exactly what was involved in the process and where we could help out.