HSE warns medicines to rise 9% in scheme change

THE Health Service Executive has warned that medicine prices will rise by around 9% when it restores a controversial drugs payment scheme next month.

The HSE announced yesterday that it was reinstating the full rate paid to pharmacists from November 1 for medicines supplied through the community drugs scheme.

Last month, the High Court found the health authority breached its contract with pharmacists when it reduced the margin it pays to pharmacists for wholesale services from 17.6% to 8%.