Pharmacists find letter hard to take

One More Thing:There were more than a few hyperventilating pharmacists in Ireland on Tuesday morning following the delivery of a letter from the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) and the HSE are at loggerheads over the executive's plan to slash the mark-up paid to wholesalers for drugs that are dispensed by pharmacists under the medical card scheme. The new pricing regime is due to take effect on December 1st and will save the HSE €100 million annually. The IPU says it could put 200 pharmacies out of business.

So you can imagine the reaction of IPU members on receipt of a letter relating to electronic claims transmissions from Patrick Burke, assistant national director in primary care reimbursement services (PCRS), an arm of the HSE.

It closed with the line: "I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the PCRS to wish you and your staff and family a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year."

We can't print the reaction of pharmacists.