Pharmacists 'under acute financial pressure'

Pharmacists are warning that their services are likely to suffer badly in the months to come as the impact of last summer's cuts take their toll.

They are calling on Health Minister Mary Harney to reverse what they say were "sweeping cuts" in the payments to pharmacists for medicines under public schemes.

The Irish Pharmacy Union, which is holding its annual general meeting in Mullingar today, claim their net profits are down by 38% because of the cuts.

Vice-President Darragh O'Loughlin has said pharmacists are "under acute financial pressure".