Pharmacists urge caution on prescription charge

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) today urged caution in regard to any attempt to introduce a prescription charge for medical card holders saying there were other ways in which the necessary savings could be achieved.

Health Minister Mary Harney yesterday admitted that a €0.50 charge on prescriptions for medical card holders was one of the measures under consideration ahead of next month’s Budget, in an effort to cut the health service bill and also tackle the issue of over-prescription.