Authority denies HSE tip-off on methadone move

THE Competition Authority has denied it was tipped off by the Health Service Executive about the controversial decision taken by pharmacists to withdraw from the methadone scheme.

Last December, the authority raided the offices of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU), the representative body for pharmacists, and their investigation is continuing. Authority chairman William Prasifka told members of the joint committee on enterprise, trade and employment, the authority was not acting on the direction of the HSE — it was acting independently.

The issue was raised by Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary who said the authority had pushed itself into a very bitter dispute and asked if there was any communication between the authority and the HSE prior to its pre-Christmas raid on the IPU’s premises.