HSE in pharmacists threat

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has said it will take legal action against pharmacists who do not cooperate with the new medical card and community drug schemes.

It announced last night it has begun writing to a number of pharmacists and warned them it will seek an injunction in the courts if its policies are ignored from May 1.

The HSE’s assistant national director Pat O’Dowd said pharmacists are contractually obliged to work with the scheme unless they have given three months’ notice of their intention to opt out.