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.

Mr Prasifka said it was not a player in the dispute. “We don’t act at the behest of the HSE. All our decisions are completely independent in that regard,” he said.

Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews said there was a public perception the authority was riding “rough shod” over the IPU for the HSE. “Ireland is the only country using the Competition Act to block sensitive negotiations, compared with other European states,” he claimed. He urged the authority to let the two sides involved try and reach a settlement. Mr Prasifka said the authority acted after a “collective” decision by pharmacists to withdraw services and he did not believe it was out of step with other European countries.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Damien English said price competition was encouraging binge drinking with large outlets encouraging consumers to buy alcohol in large quantities at cost price. But Mr Prasifka said restricting the price of alcohol or imposing a tax was the wrong way to go as it would hit every consumer rather than those abusing alcohol and allow the private retail sector to increase its profits.