CCPC Launches Market Study into Ireland's Retail Pharmacy Sector, Seeks Input by July 9, 2026
Ireland's CCPC has launched a market study into the retail pharmacy sector to assess competition and consumer outcomes. It will examine price transparency and product supply, inviting stakeholder input by July 9, 2026, to improve market function.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has initiated a market study into Ireland's retail pharmacy sector. The study aims to evaluate how the market functions for consumers, assessing competition among 1,918 retail pharmacies and the supply of prescription and over-the-counter products.
Areas identified for closer examination include price transparency and consumer switching, based on complaints, preliminary research, and market developments. The CCPC seeks to understand how competition benefits consumers and will issue recommendations to enhance competition and consumer outcomes.
Stakeholders, including consumers, pharmacy owners, pharmacists, public bodies, and regulators, are invited to submit their views and experiences by July 9, 2026. Geoffrey Gray, Commission Member, emphasized the study focuses on market competition, not pharmacists' professionalism or care.