Pharmacists warn of possible methadone scheme collapse

Pharmacists are warning the country's methadone treatment scheme could collapse.

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union says the State's medicines schemes - including the methadone treatment used to wean heroin addicts off the street version of the drug - could come to an end if the HSE does not review fees paid to its members.

Around 2.5 million patients around the country currently take part in the medicines programmes - including the methadone scheme - and the IPU says pharmacists are operating the schemes at a loss.

Union spokesman Diarmuid Twomey said that they are very concerned about this issue, and has called for urgent talks with the HSE.