Can visitors use pharmacies and out of hours doctors in Ireland, and what might it cost?
Yes. For minor illness, the pharmacy is the usual first stop. Pharmacists advise free of charge, sell a wide range of medicines without prescription, and will tell you plainly when you need a doctor instead. For a doctor outside surgery hours, every area has an out of hours GP co operative: ring the local GP number and the recorded message gives the co operative to call. Visitors without an Irish medical card pay privately, typically €50 to €70 for a GP consultation, plus the full cost of any medicine prescribed. Visitors holding a European Health Insurance Card or a UK Global Health Insurance Card can be treated under the public scheme by a participating doctor. Receipts are what insurers ask for when a claim is made afterwards.
Useful pages: Money and tipping in Ireland · Shopping in Ireland · Packing checklist · Travel notices · Healthcare and emergencies · Irish weather · Festivals and events · Dublin · Ireland dos and don'ts · Solo travel in Ireland · First time visitor tips
Sources
- HSE: healthcare for visitors to Ireland and treatment with an EHIC, hse.ie; Citizens Information: health services and public holidays, citizensinformation.ie
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