Pressure mounts to extend drugs claim deadline

THE Government is under mounting pressure to extend the deadline for refunds under the Drug Payments Scheme following a Department of Health overcharging blunder.

With just three weeks left to claim, less than 3% of the estimated 175,000 people owed €18 million have applied for their money back.

Yesterday, the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU), whose members have to provide patients with the documentation to back up their claim, said pharmacists were under huge pressure.