HSE cleverly passing the buck in Irish Pharmacy Strike

Galen

Irish Pharmacy Union criticises ‘incomplete’ report from Tuesday, 30 June 2009

http://www.ipu.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=337&Itemid=221

President of IPU says pharmacists prevented by government from offering patients cheaper generic medicines


Tuesday 30 June: The Irish Pharmacy Union, the representative body for 1,900 community pharmacists in Ireland, has criticised the Competition Authority for failing to address key issues around the cost of medicines in Ireland. The IPU is responding to a new report by the Competition Authority entitled “Retail-related Import and Distribution Study” published today.


In particular, the Union states that the Competition Authority ignored the fact that pharmacists are currently prevented from offering patients the choice of a cheaper generic medicine by a clause in an agreement reached between the large pharmaceutical manufacturers in this country and the State.


President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, Ms Liz Hoctor described the report as incomplete and unbalanced. “There is a glaring omission from the Competition Authority’s report and that is the fact pharmacists are currently prevented from offering the patient the choice of cheaper generic medicines, where it is safe to do so. Pharmacists in other European countries have been enabled to do this to save costs not just for the State but also for patients. Irish pharmacists are prevented from offering the patient a cheaper generic by a clause in an agreement between the large pharmaceutical manufactures and the Government. The price of medicines is set by this agreement. Pharmacists here have no say in this.”


Ms Hoctor also pointed out that the Competition Authority’s report also fails to acknowledge that 76 per cent of the medicines dispensed on the community drugs schemes by Ireland’s pharmacists are dispensed with no mark up. These are medicines dispensed to medical card patients. In relation to the profit margins earned by pharmacists, Ms Hoctor said “The average pharmacy in Ireland earns a net profit margin of 6.6 per cent. We are transparent in relation to this. This has been verified a report on the community pharmacy sector published by PriceWaterHouseCoopers in January 2009. This is hardly excessive.”


In relation to the cuts to pharmacists payments, Ms Hoctor said “The Government is now moving to make a 34 per cent cut in payments to pharmacists for providing medicines and advice to patients on the community drugs schemes. This cut is excessive and unsustainable and will damage pharmacy services, undermine patient care and lead to up to 5,000 job losses in pharmacies across the country. This is extremely worrying.”
For further information: Kate Healy, Press & Communications Officer, IPU – Ph: 087 7751510


Issued by: Maria Whitmore, Gordon MRM, 087 – 2377105

jeepers

I noticed this morning the HSE has stated that the dispute is between pharmacists and the government, not them. They smell failure ahead so time to jump ship.