The Irish Pharmacy Union has said that it has “grave concerns” about the HSE's contingency plan for the supply of medicines after August 1.
A spokesman for the union said that Phase One of the contingency plan is “totally inadequate in terms of meeting the medicines needs of patients”. The IPU is calling for the immediate publication of Phase Two of the plan, and has written to Minister for Health and Children Mary seeking to resolve the matter.
Locally pharmacists are concerned that 73 per cent of Galway pharmacists have indicated that they will withdraw from dispensing under the Community Drug Schemes, however there are no plans to provide a HSE operated pharmacy in Galway under phase one of the contingency programme.
The HSE has stressed that additional pharmacies will be added to the Pharmacy Contingency Programme as more information becomes available on the pharmacies that will withdraw services.
“It will not be possible to replace every pharmacy which withdraws service on a like for like basis so patients and clients may have to travel further than normal to have their prescription filled,” said HSE chief pharmacist (contracts office ) Kate Mulvenna. “We would encourage family, friends and neighbours to assist vulnerable people who may have transport difficulties to secure their medication.”
“Community pharmacists are an important part of our health services and we hope that local pharmacists will continue to provide these services. We are doing everything possible to make sure patients and clients can have their prescriptions filled, should their usual pharmacist withdraw services, by either directing them to participating pharmacists in their area or to alternative arrangements that we have put in place.
“Our advice to people who are concerned is that the first thing to do is to ask their pharmacists if they will be withdrawing services from August 1 or if they will be continuing to provide a service to them.”
During the coming weeks the HSE will provide information on pharmacies which have confirmed that they will continue to participate in the schemes. This will be done through the HSE Infoline 1850 24 1850, advertisements, and the HSE website www.hse.ie
