THE EXECUTIVE of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) is to meet today to consider progress in the dispute over fees, which has led to the withdrawal of hundreds of pharmacies from the State drugs schemes and the closure of a significant number of outlets.
It is understood the meeting will provide an opportunity for pharmacists to reflect on the state of play in the dispute with the Health Service Executive (HSE). The meeting will take place mid-morning as the row enters its second week today.
Government sources said last night they were increasingly confident that the dispute was coming to an end but again ruled out the appointment of any form of third-party mediator.
Pharmacy sources said that neither Minister for Health Mary Harney nor her advisers had appeared to identify the subtlety of the offer made by the IPU on Thursday when it suggested the row could be ended if the Government appointed a third party to look at the impact of the cuts in fees. The union had acknowledged implicitly that it would not get direct talks with the Minister nor the appointment of a mediator, but now it just wanted an independent analysis of the impact of the €133 million reduction in fees. This did not mean the cuts would have to be reversed pending the outcome of the analysis.
Pharmacy sources also said that this process could be part of the architecture of a review of the reductions in all professional fees in the health sector which the Minister will have to carry out, under law, by next summer.
However, last night Government sources, who are increasingly confident the dispute is coming to an end, ruled out any appointment of a third party.
Separately the HSE yesterday secured a High Court order compelling more than 30 pharmacies in the east to continue to provide medicine under the terms of the community drugs schemes.
The health body sought the order due to what it claimed was the “grave risk” to public safety due to the pharmacies’ failure to give notice that they had ceased providing drugs and medicines in accordance with the terms of community pharmacy contractor agreements.
Yesterday Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan granted the HSE an interim injunction against 35 pharmacies in the Hickey Group and the Bradley Group. The groups, which are separate to each other, operate pharmacies in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Louth, Wexford and Wicklow.
HSE court order forces 35 pharmacies to continue dispensing; Call for mediation to end dispute: page 4