Pharmacists take action over HSE cost cutting

THE Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) is taking legal action against the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to its proposal to reduce the price its pays to wholesalers for medicines under community drugs schemes.

A number of pharmacy contractors are also involved in the legal action. Both the IPU and the contractors believe if the HSE proceeds with its plan to unilaterally reduce payments it will be in breach of individual pharmacists’ contracts, which provide for the currently agreed level of payments.

According to the pharmacists, this will affect the viability of their participation in state schemes.