Pharmacists will now provide support and resources for victims of domestic violence.
Under this Safe Pharmacy initiative 850 pharmacies across the country will effectively become a community response unit for those experiencing domestic violence and coercive control.
Chemists will place a small purple sign on their shop fronts, letting those in dangerous situations know there's help available inside.
When victims spot the purple sign in the window they know they can ask the pharmacist for a private consultation, where they'll be able to share their story in a completely private space. The pharmacist will then offer resources, be it specialist domestic abuse service or the Gardaí.
Oonagh O'Hagan from the Maher Pharmacy group says the community aspect of chemists is important:
"85% of people in Ireland live within five kilometres of a community pharmacy, we're in every town, village and city.
"We're also open late at night and open on weekends."
While Safe Ireland CEO Mary McDermott says the way to start tackling domestic violence is through grassroots initiates like this:
"What has become apparent to us since Covid is that at the community level the skill needs to be there.
"It's not a question about individuals or small groups alone working. This needs a systematic state structure."
The initiative was created alongside the HSE, Safe Ireland, the Gardaí and the Irish Pharmacy Union.
