The Health Service Executive (HSE) is to hold talks with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) later today in an attempt to find a resolution to the ongoing row over the introduction of a controversial new pricing arrangement for community pharmacists.
Pharmacists and the HSE have been engaged in a bitter row over reimbursement for the distribution of drugs. Under a new system introduced in March, the HSE has reduced the margin paid to pharmaceutical wholesalers from 17 per cent to 8 per cent in a bid to save €100 million. As it has no direct relationship with wholesalers, to achieve its aim the HSE has reduced the reimbursement it pays to pharmacists for drugs and medicines.
The new pricing arrangements were introduced at the beginning of March, but pharmacists have only begun receiving payments for that month in the last day or so.
More than 800 pharmacies have indicated that they are either planning to withdraw or are considering withdrawing from the various community drug schemes as a result of the dispute.
The IPU said yesterday that it was seeking to find a process to address the current issues and added that it was looking for a comprehensive review of payments to pharmacists.
The HSE, meanwhile is also expected to seek High Court injunctions against nine pharmacies which are planning to withdraw from the community drug schemes as part of the row.
Three of the pharmacies concerned are in Mayo, while the others are in Donegal, Roscommon and Kerry.