HSE hopes to maintain drug supply

A CONTINGENCY plan is being drawn up by the Health Service Executive to ensure people continue to receive their medicines under the community drugs schemes.

More than 1,000 pharmacists have given 30 days notice to the HSE of their intention to discontinue providing services under the Medical Card Scheme and Drugs Payment Scheme from August 1.

The HSE wrote to the country’s 1,660 community pharmacists yesterday in a bid to clarify what kind of disruption will result from the threatened action over the introduction this week of government payment cuts of up to €133 million.