Madam, Your editorial (July 6th) states that all groups must be seen to pull their weight and take their share of the pain. Of all people in society, pharmacists understand the seriousness of the country’s economic situation.
My colleagues and I see patients coming into our pharmacies with a medical card, who never before needed a medical card.
The editorial fails to point out that in March of this year, pharmacists offered to help the Government make savings of €83 million. We offered to take an 8 per cent cut in our fees as other healthcare professionals were asked to give- in addition we also showed how €30 million could be saved through enabling pharmacists to offer patients the choice of a cheaper generic medicine, where it is safe to do so.
We are currently prevented from doing this through a clause in an agreement between Government and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
The Editorial accused pharmacists of targeting medical card patients in its dispute with Government on drug margins. This is simply not the case.
Historically pharmacists provide an essential service and support to their patients in their local community above and beyond mere supply of medicines.
I do this on a daily basis on Achill Island and after 18 years here still get immense personal satisfaction from contributing to our rural community.
However, the massive cut which is being proposed by the Minster is unreasonable.
This cut is four times higher than what is being imposed on other professionals and will undermine rural pharmacy services in particular.
Although I am the only pharmacist here in Achill Island, I simply cannot afford to maintain pharmacy services for the people of Achill under the cuts made by the Minister for Health and regrettably with a very heavy heart, I have served 30 days notice on the HSE of my intention to discontinue provide a services on the community drugs schemes. – Yours, etc,