The Heath Service Executive (HSE) has this evening asked pharmacists who are terminating their contract with the body to help ensure minimal disruption to patients.
Up to 900 pharmacies have given the HSE notice of their intention to withdraw from dispensing drugs under State schemes August 1st over the Government decision to cut their fees.
The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) says this will result in an average loss in income for pharmacists of 34 per cent and the closure of some pharmacies with the possible loss of up to 5,000 jobs.
The HSE said yesterday it is putting in place alternative arrangements.
In a statement today, the HSE formally acknowledged termination of contracts by 800 pharmacists through written notice and said the letters sent out appealed to pharmacists to facilitate patients by having their prescriptions filled in other locations and by providing records, such as repeat prescriptions and dispensing records, on request.
The HSE has also asked pharmacists withdrawing to give Drug Payment Scheme patients details of the payments they have made up to the termination date of the contract.
In a statment, HSE chief pharmacist, Contracts Office, Kate Mulvenna said; "We are asking pharmacists who have chosen to terminate their contract to assist us in ensuring minimal disruption to patients who need access to their medications.
"By handing over prescription records to their clients, on request, and by patients who may require extra supports, pharmacists can help ensure that their clients can continue to access their medications."
She advised patients to ask their local pharmacist if they will be withdrawing services or not, adding that further information on which pharmacists will be operate the schemes after August 1st will be made available "in the coming days".
The HSE statement said requests from pharmacists for reinstatement of contracts "will have to be reviewed in line with HSE operating procedures".
The body said information on pharmacies continuing to participate in schemes could be found via the HSE infoline 1850 241850, newspaper advertisements and www.hse.ie.
The HSE has invited pharmacies in Northern Ireland to consider dispensing medicines to its medical card patients in Border counties from the beginning of next month.