Pharmacists have no control over cost of drugs

I WOULD like to respond to comments made by Cllr Brian Meaney from Clare (November 12) on the fees paid to pharmacists. The costs of running a pharmacy in Ireland are extremely high — close to €600,000 a year.

Our pharmacy is open from 9am-9pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, in total 66 hours per week. We employ 18 people between full-time and part-time staff.

The payments we receive from the HSE contribute towards paying these costs and enabling us to pay qualified professional staff to provide pharmacy services on the community drugs schemes on behalf of the state.