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15/04/2008
Pharmacists Lodge 400 Actions At High Court
Over 400 Irish pharmacists have lodged high court actions against the government over plans to reduce the HSE's drugs bill.
The chemists are seeking injunctions to stop the HSE making controversial changes to their fees for dispensing drugs, which would save the service up to €100 million a year.
The HSE has reduced the margin paid to pharmaceutical wholesalers from 17% to 8% in order to save money against the growing level of medical card holders and those entitled to subsidised drugs.
The scheme came into effect last month and two pharmacists have already been granted injunctions in the High Court, which has spurned the actions by the other pharmacists.
A spokesman for the Irish Pharmacy Union said they welcomed the decision of the High Court today in the previous cases although it was regrettable that individual pharmacists have to resort to court action to have these matters resolved.
The spokesman said: "It would be far more preferable for the HSE to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Union and deal with matters in an orderly and constructive manner."
He added: "The Union now calls upon the HSE to sit down with us in an attempt to find a formula to resolve all issues in this dispute."
The HSE has said it is determined to push ahead with its policy of reducing the pharmacists margin.
(DW/JM)
The chemists are seeking injunctions to stop the HSE making controversial changes to their fees for dispensing drugs, which would save the service up to €100 million a year.
The HSE has reduced the margin paid to pharmaceutical wholesalers from 17% to 8% in order to save money against the growing level of medical card holders and those entitled to subsidised drugs.
The scheme came into effect last month and two pharmacists have already been granted injunctions in the High Court, which has spurned the actions by the other pharmacists.
A spokesman for the Irish Pharmacy Union said they welcomed the decision of the High Court today in the previous cases although it was regrettable that individual pharmacists have to resort to court action to have these matters resolved.
The spokesman said: "It would be far more preferable for the HSE to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Union and deal with matters in an orderly and constructive manner."
He added: "The Union now calls upon the HSE to sit down with us in an attempt to find a formula to resolve all issues in this dispute."
The HSE has said it is determined to push ahead with its policy of reducing the pharmacists margin.
(DW/JM)
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