Martin to meet pharmacists about deregulation

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union is due to meet Health Minister, Micheal Martin, and other politicians today to discuss Government plans to deregulate the sector.

With a review group due to publish a report on the planned deregulation, the IPU has expressed fears that so-called 'super chemists' will swamp the market, putting community-based pharmacies out of business.

Seamus Feely, the general secretary of the union, said the pharmacy sector is the only part of the health service that is currently working well, and politicians should 'tread carefully' when making changes to it.

"Ireland now has the most liberal pharmacy sector in all of Europe and we believe there are inherent risks in that," he added.

"The Irish Pharmaceutical Union is not opposed to change, but we are asking politicians that they should regulate to ensure that the ownership of pharmacies stays in the hands of pharmacists themselves."