Age Action criticises pharmacists

AGE Action has urged older people to take back prescriptions from pharmacists unable to guarantee their continued participation in the state drug schemes from tomorrow and give it to one willing to fill it for them.

The organisation has criticised some pharmacists who are not giving customers a straight answer as to whether they will be dispensing drugs under the community drug schemes from August 1.

“We are still not clear, even at this stage, as to the pharmacists actually participating in the schemes,” said Age Action spokesperson Eamon Timmins. “Some pharmacists are not giving a straight answer as to whether they will continue to dispense drugs under the schemes. They are telling customers to come back on Saturday.”

The Health Service Executive has appealed to non-participating pharmacists to facilitate patients in having their prescriptions filled in other locations by providing, on request, repeat prescriptions, dispensing records and details of the payments they had made up to the termination date of the pharmacists’ agreement.

According to the Irish Pharmacy Union, more than 1,100 pharmacies are expected to withdraw co-operation with the schemes this weekend in a bitter row with the Government over the cutting of fees. The HSE, however, has claimed that over 860 pharmacies have indicated to the health authority that they will continue to dispense drugs under the medical card and other state schemes.

Mr Timmins said there were areas of the country where older people would have to make long journeys to a chemist still participating in the state schemes.

One older man living in Roscommon who would have to travel about 50 kilometres to a participating chemist was living in an area where there was no public transport. There were pockets outside of the areas already identified by the HSE as problem areas where elderly people would find it extremely difficult to get their medicine. It appeared that in south Roscommon, parts of West Cork, and south Kildare there would be no pharmacist participating in the schemes from Saturday, but that was not clear from the HSE’s list.

“We are still urging people to get in touch with their pharmacist and establish whether or not it is participating in the state schemes,” he said.

Mr Timmins said there was a need for absolute clarity on the situation at this late stage so that people could retrieve their prescriptions and medical records from non-participating chemists and make alternative arrangements.

“We would appeal to neighbours and families to rally around older people in their community and help them sort out their medication,” said Mr Timmins.