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14/04/2008
Donegal Pharmacy Row Deepens
Almost all pharmacies across Donegal are to withdraw from community drug schemes as the row over drug payments escalates.
Figures have indicated that almost 40 pharmacies in Donegal have posted their intention to withdraw from the scheme on May 1.
They are just a few of the 400 pharmacies across the country believed to have informed the Health Service Executive (HSE) of their plans to suspend services or terminate their contracts with the state.
It is feared this could leave medical card patients without access to medicine in some areas, although the HSE has contingency plans in place to deal with this scenario.
The HSE wants to cut 100 million euro from payments to pharmacies under the community drugs scheme, a move which pharmacy representative's fear will lead to closures and job losses.
While the HSE introduced reduced payments for pharmacies on March 1, the lower payments will only be paid later this month, prompting the move to withdraw from schemes on May 1.
Meanwhile, still on health matters, the Green Party's conference has been told that cancer patients in the northwest should not have to travel any further for treatment in 'centres of excellence' than those in any other part of the State.
(BMcC)
Figures have indicated that almost 40 pharmacies in Donegal have posted their intention to withdraw from the scheme on May 1.
They are just a few of the 400 pharmacies across the country believed to have informed the Health Service Executive (HSE) of their plans to suspend services or terminate their contracts with the state.
It is feared this could leave medical card patients without access to medicine in some areas, although the HSE has contingency plans in place to deal with this scenario.
The HSE wants to cut 100 million euro from payments to pharmacies under the community drugs scheme, a move which pharmacy representative's fear will lead to closures and job losses.
While the HSE introduced reduced payments for pharmacies on March 1, the lower payments will only be paid later this month, prompting the move to withdraw from schemes on May 1.
Meanwhile, still on health matters, the Green Party's conference has been told that cancer patients in the northwest should not have to travel any further for treatment in 'centres of excellence' than those in any other part of the State.
(BMcC)
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