IRISH PHARMACY Union president Michael Guckian has called on pharmacists to continue dispensing medicines to patients on Saturday, despite the row over the planned introduction of a controversial new payment system by the Health Service Executive (HSE) at the weekend.
In a statement last night, however, Mr Guckian warned that if a negotiated settlement to the dispute failed, pharmacists would have to review their participation in contracts with the HSE for the provision of medicines under the community drugs schemes. The HSE had earlier said it believed most pharmacies would continue to provide normal services to patients from this weekend despite the row.
It said it had written to pharmacies to establish which outlets would and would not continue to deliver services. While the initial response had been disappointing, the HSE said "on local contact, it is becoming clear that most pharmacists do not intend to disrupt medicine supply to patients."
Minister for Health Mary Harney said the HSE had contingency plans in the event of pharmacists withdrawing from dispensing medication to medical card patients. She said patients would not be affected by the dispute.
The HSE plans to reduce the margin paid to pharmaceutical wholesalers in a move aimed at saving €100 million.
Pharmacists claim they could end up paying more for drugs than they receive in State reimbursement. They have warned the planned HSE cuts would lead to the closure of pharmacies and a reduction in service to patients.
"The union is close to reaching the point where it will have to advise its members that all normal channels of negotiations have been exhausted and that there is no prospect of finding an agreed resolution," said Mr Guckian.
"If all efforts to resolve the matter through a negotiated process fail, then members' only options are to take what is given to them or to review their continued participation in the contract with the HSE for the provision of medicines under the community drugs schemes. "In the meantime, the union will make a final effort to find a formula for a resolution. The union is also calling on the HSE to finalise its contingency plans to ensure that patient safety is not compromised in the event of any disruption of pharmacy services resulting from the proposed cut in payments," he said.
In the Dáil yesterday, Ms Harney said, "if there is any patient on Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday who cannot get access to their medication, the HSE will ensure they get that medication".
She denied pharmacists would be charged more than they will get from the HSE. "I do not expect anyone to do business with somebody who will charge them more than they will get. Any pharmacist who is charged more at the end of the month should contact the HSE and the manufacturers and that will be sorted out," she said.
She added that in Ireland the wholesale margin for drugs was just less than 18 per cent, twice the rate in Europe.
"There are roughly 1,600 pharmacies in the country and, on average, each received approximately €234,000 last year. Many caveats apply to different jurisdictions but, on average, that is €100,000 more than pharmacists in Northern Ireland received. In Northern Ireland, there is a wholesale margin of 12.5 per cent up to the first £180,000 and after that the level is 4 per cent," she said.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly and Labour's spokeswoman on health Jan O'Sullivan urged Ms Harney to postpone the introduction of the new payment system until an independent body examining fees for a new pharmacy contract has reported.