The directors of Hickey’s Pharmacies, one of the country’s largest pharmacy retail groups, have stated that excessive rents on several properties represent a threat to their business.

EXCEPTIONAL costs totalling €1.29m contributed to the Hickey pharmacy group recording a pre-tax loss of €251,230 last year, figures show.

More than 20 pharmacies have claimed they will suffer annual losses of more than €2m if the HSE proceeds with plans to reduce amounts paid to them for dispensing medicines to some members of the public for free.