Crystal Clear Mark

May 2021: Applications for pharmacies to gain a unique health literacy quality mark are now open. Read more here.

The Crystal Clear mark recognises the critical role pharmacies play in helping people understand their health issues and the steps they need to take to improve their health. The mark is awarded to pharmacies where there is evidence of, and commitment to, providing a literacy friendly service. This means the pharmacy is taking account of and supporting the literacy and numeracy needs of its customers and communicating clearly.

The mark has been developed by the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and NALA and is supported by Healthy Ireland. We award the quality mark for 3 years and it is free to apply.

To date we have awarded the quality mark to 105 pharmacies in 19 counties.

Read who has the mark

How do you become a Crystal Clear Pharmacy?

To become a Crystal Clear Pharmacy, you apply by completing an audit consisting of 10 questions. These questions look at:

communication;
staff awareness and responding sensitively;
policies and procedures; and
evaluating and improving.

The pharmacy supplies evidence such as photographs of clear signage, examples of plain English medication labels and describe the ways that staff communicate effectively with people in a literacy friendly way.

Pharmacies who pass the audit get the Crystal Clear mark for three years and get a certificate and sticker to display in their pharmacy.

Before you start, have a look at the Guide to becoming a Crystal Clear Pharmacy.

You can do the audit:

online by filling in the form below
by downloading the Crystal Clear Application Form in word here and emailing it to hryan@nala.ie
by booking in a slot with NALA to answer some of the questions over the phone and then send on the remaining information.

If you would like to book a slot or have any questions, please contact Helen Ryan in NALA on 01 412 7919 (direct) or email hryan@nala.ie.

Read the Guide