Payments ruling could affect 900 pharmacists

A HIGH Court declaration yesterday that five community pharmacists are entitled to advance payments under the general medical services scheme for “as long as their contracts remain in force” could have implications for up to 900 other pharmacists with similar contracts.

Mr Justice Frank Clarke made the declaration in proceedings in which the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and the five pharmacists had challenged the decision of the Health Minister in December 2002 to stop such advance payments.

While the judge last month dismissed the IPU’s claim it had a contractual right to have advance payments made to pharmacists, he found the minister’s decision was an “unlawful variation” of agreed terms between the five pharmacists and the HSE.