Donegal pharmacies are among the 1000-plus individual pharmacies that have given the Health Service Executive (HSE) 30 days notice of their intention to withdraw from the community drugs schemes.
This means that effectively two thirds of all pharmacies across the country will cease dispensing medicines on behalf of the HSE under the Medical Card Scheme and the Drugs Payments Scheme. This will take effect as of August 1 and the number of pharmacists could yet increase as individuals review their position.
The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), called on the Minister for Health and Children to enter talks with its members as soon as possible to avoid a medicines crisis.
“The cuts as announced are grossly disproportionate in relation to other Healthcare Professions,” said Donegal pharmacist and IPU representative, Rory O’Donnell from O’Donnell’s Pharmacy.
“To continue providing services under the new payment regime would necessitate my slashing base costs to a level which would make continued participation dangerous to the public. I will expand this point – in line with many businesses and in the knowledge that some level of cuts were imminent, I already reduced my staffing levels and other base costs. This has already put strains on my ability to provide services. I no longer have time to spend with many patients who need advice. The cuts have devastated my ability to provide any level of safe service both professionally and in terms of health and safety.”
The IPU has said that the proposed cuts would prevent pharmacists from providing a quality service for their customers and could lead to 5000 job losses. 1,521 pharmacists currently hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of medicines to patients on the community drugs schemes.