'Without swift action from Government, pharmacy closures will become a reality', warns union
Plans, Up €1,200 Group Face For Some Clarity Of Of To Could Still Hrt A That The Women On Annually Have Fees Called Warning Pharmacists
Voters have been urged by the Irish Pharmacy Union to question politicians on plans to expand treatment in pharmacies in light of a now 16-year freeze on fees paid to pharmacists.
Customers could see pharmacy closures instead of expansion if this issue is not addressed by the next Government, the pharmacists have warned.
The plans will allow patients be treated for eight common conditions, including cold sores and shingles, in pharmacies without needing a GP prescription. It also includes offering hormone replacement therapy (HRT) from January, with patients only paying pharmacy and GP fees.
Union president Tom Murray said pharmacies want to offer more medical care and build on recommendations in a recent expert taskforce report on the sector.
He described the potential as “huge” for patients to have faster access to medications and plans for pharmacists to prescribe some medications.
“Voters who value the care pharmacies already provide, and want them to be enabled to deliver additional services, should ask election candidates about their intentions for the utilisation of pharmacists skills over the coming days,” he urged.
However, he said “meaningful change” is needed in the funding model which supports the sector.
“Currently, one in 10 pharmacies is loss-making. Without swift action from the next Government, pharmacy closures will become a reality” he warned.
"It is unreasonable and unviable to expect pharmacies to operate with 2009 professional fee structures whilst operating with 2024 costs.”
They are calling for an increase in the professional fee to €6.50 per item of medicine dispensed under the community drug schemes. This would not affect how much patients pay per item.
“A number of political parties have pledged in their manifestos to review professional fees and pharmacy funding,” he pointed out.
“When a new Government is formed, we will be holding them to account on this issue and will expect to see this commitment reflected in the Programme for Government.”
He called for “fair funding” to support this vital part of the health sector.
“The choice for the next Government is clear: Fund pharmacies and watch the sector thrive, or allow pharmacy funding structure to continue to struggle with constituents bearing the inevitable consequences,” he said.
However, while the products will be free, women will be expected to pay fees for dispensing and GP appointments.
A group of pharmacists have also separately called for clarity on the therapy plans, warning that some women could still face fees of up to €1,200 annually.
Pharmacist Sheena Mitchell said: “The minister for health has written into law that there will be free HRT for women.
"However, unlike the contraceptive scheme, he is unwilling to pay a doctor to assess a woman’s suitability for HRT, unwilling to pay a pharmacist to dispense the medication, and unwilling to pay the pharmaceutical suppliers for a sufficient quantity of the hormone replacement therapy drugs to meet demand.”