Pharmacists close shops to attend meeting

MORE than 500 pharmacists across the country will close their businesses today to travel to Dublin for an emergency trade union meeting.

The special general meeting of the Irish Pharmacy Union will discuss the new payment scheme operated by the Health Service Executive.

Under the scheme the HSE has reduced the amount of mark-up it will pay to pharmacists for wholesale drugs from 18% to 8%.

The union said in cases where there is a middle wholesaler pharmacists will be forced to sell drugs at a loss.

It will use today’s meeting to discuss the implications of the changes and said its members feel the HSE is trying to force the new contracts through.

However, the HSE has said arranging this type of mass meeting in the middle of a working day was a deliberate attempt to disrupt those who need medication.

It called on pharmacists not to close their businesses for the meeting.

“Usually, the IPU holds meeting of its members on Sundays and it would appear that there is no other reason for this change of practice other than to deliberately cause inconvenience to patients trying to collect prescriptions.

“The HSE is anxious that all patients will be able to collect their prescriptions and utilise pharmacy services,” a statement said.

The union has denied this and said individual pharmacists have made every effort to ensure those needing medication are accommodated.

“The union has asked individual pharmacists to put measures in place to ensure prescriptions can be dispensed in emergency situations. Patients are advised to speak to their local pharmacist about arrangements in their area,” said the union.

Notices will be placed on all businesses that close to explain alternative arrangements.

The meeting will take place in the Ballsbridge Inn, which used to be Jurys Hotel. There will be two sessions. The first will run from 11am to 1pm, which will be open, before it goes into closed session in the afternoon.