Pharmacies call on minister to publish pricing report

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has been accused of fuelling the crisis in the pharmacy sector by delaying the publication of the report on payments for pharmacies.

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), which made the charge, said the minister had the Pharmacy Pricing Body report since it was completed in June.

The pricing group was established by the minister last February to make recommendations on pharmacy fees as an interim measure, pending a new pharmacy contract.

Pharmacy union president Liz Hoctor urged the minister to publish the report as a matter of urgency and implement its recommendations so pharmacists could see if it could help those struggling after the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) unilateral decision to cut drug payments earlier this year.

In March health bosses reduced the margins paid on drugs under the medical card and community schemes in an effort to save €100m.

In the High Court yesterday, a legal challenge by a pharmacy group to the decision got under way.

The IPU represents over 1,850 pharmacists across the country. It believes the HSE has breached its contract with pharmacists by cutting their payments under the schemes.

Pharmacies complained that because the wholesale prices of drugs are not being reduced, they are expected to make up the shortfall.

They claim the cost-cutting measures will reduce their income by up to 30% and lead to closures.

The HSE has said people are paying too much for drugs. It also stressed that the cut from 17% to 7% in wholesale margins should be cost-neutral for pharmacists.

The case taken by Hickey’s Pharmacies is the first to be taken by pharmacists.

The Irish Pharmacy Union is also challenging the legality of the HSE’s decision and their case is due to come before the High Court in October.

The pharmacists’ union believes the HSE is abusing its dominant position by taking such unilateral action and is also in breach of pharmacists’ contracts.