Sir, – Your Editorial (“Pharmacy prices”, March 26th) asserted that “. . . the taxpayer is effectively rewarding the pharmacies that charge their customers more”.
In fact, the Health Service Executive (HSE) will only refund claims under the Drugs Payment Scheme where the prices charged correspond with the prices on its own reimbursement list and where the dispensing fees and mark-ups added by pharmacies are in line with those set by the Minister for Health under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act. Pharmacies that charge over and above the prices listed or which add fees and mark-ups over and above those set by the Minister are not rewarded by the taxpayer, through the HSE.
In relation to prices and pharmacies generally, the Minister would urge patients and customers to shop around where they can in order to get the best prices. – Yours, etc,
SEAMUS HEMPENSTALL,
Head of the Press and
Communications Office,
Department of Health,
Hawkins Street,
Dublin 2.