Local pharmacies to work on private only basis if resolution is no foundBy Gerard Gallengerard@finnvalleypost.com A total of forty of fifty one pharmacies in Donegal including a huge number in the Finn Valley area have written to the HSE stating their intention to withdraw from their contracts with the HSE as of May 1st.Responding to the news Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty has written to Minister Mary Harney requesting that the Department of Health intervene immediately to facilitate talks between IPU and the HSE with six weeks to resolve the issue.Lambasting the Minister for what will see pharmacies withdraw from their contracts with the HSE to supply medication to the public Senator Doherty said  ”This is the result of Health Minister Mary Harney’s decision to cut payments to pharmacies under the drugs payment scheme.  She recklessly stood idly by and failed to intervene in the dispute between the Health Service Executive and the Irish Pharmacies Union.  She has failed in her duties and it is the sick and vulnerable who will suffer as a result – as will local pharmacies.”If this dispute cannot be averted then it is essential that contingency plans are set in place that minimise the implications for patients who need their medication.  The HSE must guarantee the continued supply of medication with qualified staff.  We need to know how the HSE intend to store refrigerated medication; there are also regulations to consider particularly for controlled medication distribution such as methadone. These are all huge issues and it is hard to see how practically the HSE can cope with all of these factors in any contingency plans they deliver.” he concluded.The Finn Valley Post contacted a number of pharmacies in the area all of which have acted individually and written to the HSE to withdraw from the contract.Tom Murray owner of Murray’s pharmacy in Castlefin and Ramelton believes the crisis is at crunch point and could result in disastrous circumstances for patient care which under law the HSE has a duty to provide medicine for.The Irish Pharmacy Union north West representative feels that pharmacies simply cannot take the proposed 30% cut in payment from the HSE. ”The HSE have acted in a unilateral bullying and slaughtering approach and the 30% reduction is something pharmacists cannot cope with. Each pharmacist acts individually and it is not a united front but I expect the number to go up in Donegal. The HSE are aware that the current framework is the cheapest and most efficient for patient care and they are refusing to talk and engage the union where the matter could be quickly resolved.”He advises concerned patients to contact there local pharmacists about the private only basis which they will operate come May 1st if a resolution is not found and to contact the HSE help line on 1850 241850.