Ahern urges pharmacists to end methadone protest

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has angrily called on pharmacists to resume distributing methadone to heroin addicts.

More than 140 members of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union withdrew from the scheme earlier this week as part of a dispute with the HSE.

The row erupted when the HSE announced plans to unilaterally reduce the wholesale price it pays to pharmacists for medicines.

Speaking in the Dáil today, Mr Ahern urged pharmacists to end their protest, saying methadone distribution had nothing to do with the dispute they are engaged in.