Chemists accuse HSE of drug plan 'lunacy'
Saturday October 06 2007
PHARMACISTS threatened to pull-out early from the medical card scheme last night, as their union accused the embattled HSE of "lunacy" in its plans to reform drugs spending.
The HSE is planning to cut the price it pays to pharmaceutical wholesalers in a bid to save €100m.
Members of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union have now threatened to reject the medical card scheme before the December 1 reform date.
According to the IPU, figures provided by the HSE acknowledge that pharmacists could be left dispensing medicines under the GMS card scheme at a loss.
The IPU says that many of the 1,600 chemists across Ireland are preparing to reject the medical card scheme, which provides drugs for 1.5 million people, as early as November if it means operating at a loss.
And some chemists upped the ante by saying that they will stop providing methadone prescriptions as early as next week, meaning a crisis for recovering drug addicts.
But the HSE claimed last night that there was "no justification for any pharmacy to withdraw from the state drugs schemes".
The mark-up on medicines used by the HSE is double the EU average, at 17.6pc.
Under the new scheme announced, the HSE will cut the margin it pays on medicines to 8pc from next year.
Disappointing
The HSE said pharmacies would only be affected if wholesalers do not comply with the new arrangements.
Ross Hattaway, of the HSE's Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit said: "It would be very disappointing if some health professionals would seek to threaten the well-being of vulnerable groups such as medical card holders and methadone patients, rather than deal with their suppliers directly."
However, by implication, it admitted that if wholesalers did choose to continue the 17.6pc markup then it would affect the margins of pharmacies.
According to the IPU, that could lead to the closure of many pharmacy outlets.
Noel Stenson, a pharmacist in Co Mayo, said if colleagues were losing money on the GMS scheme, "then the quicker they stop the less money they lose".
However Donegal TD Niall Blaney accused some pharmacists of creating unnecessary panic.
"Many people have contacted my office very worried, believing that the scheme will be withdrawn from pharmacies in November," he said.
