Skirmish with pharmacists just a hint of the Somme that lies ahead
THE recent stand-off between the Government and pharmacists resulting in the withdrawal of dispensing services by hundreds of businesses contracted to deliver drugs to medical card patients was a salutary reminder of the challenges we all face as citizens and government in stabilising the public finances.
Mary Harney’s quest to save €133 million on the community drugs bill, under the umbrella of emergency legislation in the public interest, is just the first of many skirmishes on slashing the bill for public services.