On behalf of pharmacists all around the country, the Irish Pharmacy Union has expressed its thanks to patients for their patience, forbearance and support during the recent dispute.
Liz Hoctor, president of the IPU, said that while patients had been inconvenienced by the dispute the feedback pharmacists had received was overwhelmingly positive.
“We know that many patients were hugely inconvenienced when pharmacists were forced to withdraw from the community drug schemes. And given the failure of the HSE’s contingency plans we know that it went well beyond inconvenience in very many instances. It was extremely difficult for pharmacists to direct patients to other pharmacies or the HSE dispensaries, but I think patients appreciated the fact that their pharmacists continued to care and advise them. I know of many instances where pharmacists, their staff, or family members collected and delivered medicines on behalf of their patients. That’s what community pharmacy is all about and that is why in the end we called on our members to resume dispensing under the schemes.”
Ms Hoctor said that while pharmacists had been forced to take the action by Minister Harney’s unilateral action of reducing payments by 34 per cent and her refusal to meet with the IPU there had been a number of positives from the dispute.
“The Minister has now given a commitment to engage in dialogue on the future role of pharmacists and not to remove a cent more than €133 million from the sector on foot of these cuts.”
Ms Hoctor said that while many people have strong views on pharmacists and the service they provide she hoped the recent dispute had led to a greater understanding of the role of community pharmacists.
Achill pharmacist Noel Stenson pointed out that pharmacists went back dispensing because of the mounting danger to patient safety. “Our patients are our main concern. But people have to remember that in order to provide the professional and personal service we want to provide and our patients expect, pharmacists need to run viable businesses. That is the reality and one which HSE officials have great difficulty understanding. We don’t want a service where pharmacies are forced to close down leaving large parts of the country and our towns and cities without an adequate service and up to 5,000 more people without jobs.”
Mr Stenson added: “Hopefully people realise that while pharmacists were more than happy to take an eight per cent cut in payments like other healthcare professionals, a 34 per cent cut is totally disproportionate and will impact hugely on the ability of pharmacists to deliver the service people expect. Also I hope people realise that the price of medicines is completely outside of the control of pharmacists. That is agreed by the manufacturers and the Government. Similarly while pharmacists would like very much to prescribe generic medicines where appropriate, we are prevented from doing so by the Government.”
Ms Hoctor said that undermining the ability of pharmacists to deliver a proper community pharmacy service will have severe repercussions in the future. “I hope the Minister and the HSE will reflect on that, put aside preconceptions – and indeed misconceptions — and engage fully with the IPU in mapping the way forward in a spirit of openness and partnership.”
