Drug schemes face collapse, warn pharmacists
Last night the IPU, in a hard-hitting criticism of the HSE, said: “It’s clear that the HSE is now realising that the community drug schemes are in danger of collapse from next week as a result of their arrogance and mismanagement and they have no workable contingency plan.
“It is incredible that HSE management is focusing at this point in time on trying to intimidate individual pharmacists with legal proceedings rather than trying to find a resolution to the issue.
“The HSE must stop this confrontational approach and honour pharmacists’ existing contract and stop wasting taxpayers money on court actions.”
The IPU was reacting to the HSE’s decision to apply to the High Court next week for an injunction restraining nine pharmacies from “wrongly” refusing to provide “critical” services from May 1 under the Community Pharmacy Contractor agreement.
Similar orders are likely to be sought against hundreds of other pharmacies who have indicated they may withdraw from the contract as part of what the HSE claims is an “orchestrated campaign” arising from the HSE’s plan to reduce prices paid to pharmacies for drugs.
The practical effect of such termination will be to deprive patients of supplies of their medicines and drugs and carries a “serious risk” of endangering the health of members of the public, particularly the poor, the HSE said.
While some pharmacies were saying they would provide the medicines for cash, payment might simply not be an option for poorer patients.
It said 8,000 drugs and medicines are covered by the General Medical Services scheme and by related community drugs schemes, such as the Drug Payment Scheme, the Long-Term Illness Scheme and the High Tech Drug Scheme.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly granted leave yesterday to John Gordon SC, for the HSE, to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings against the nine pharmacies, located in Donegal, Dublin, Roscommon, Mayo and Kerry.
He returned the matter to Monday and indicated that, while the injunction application may not be heard then, it will be heard in the Commercial Court prior to May 1.
The HSE will seek an injunction restraining wrongful termination of the CPC on May 1 and requiring pharmacies to continue to provide services until the three months notice period allegedly required for termination has expired.
The judge said the matter was urgent and he would allow the HSE to apply for the injunction at short notice.
