Government accused of seeking to implement €45 million tax cuts to pharmacies funding

The Government has been accused of seeking to implement fresh cuts totalling €45 million to the funding of pharmacies on top of cuts introduced during the crash.

Fianna Fáil's deputy leader Dara Calleary said that after cuts of 33% to their income under financial emergency legislation, Health Minister Simon Harris has come along and said that the HSE had instructed pharmacists that as of January 1, there would be a range of cuts to their income, services and fees aside from the new contract.