The Irish Pharmacy Union, representing community pharmacists, has told members that it is reviewing all its options for dealing with controversial cuts in payments announced by the Government on Thursday.
The IPU said the extent of the cuts was much greater than the €133 million over 12 months announced by Minister for Health Mary Harney.
It said that the cuts amounted to a 36 per cent decrease across the sector and an estimated loss of €115,000 to each pharmacy business.