The current dispute between the pharmacists and the Health Service Executive appears to have entered its endgame, as Galway members of the Irish Pharmacy Union travelled to Dublin last night for an emergency meeting. Meanwhile, the HSE has announced that 50 of the pharmacies that removed themselves from the drug scheme for 1 August had now decided to rejoin the State Drug Scheme.

IPU Western Regional Representative, Brian Walsh of Leo Walsh's Pharmacy's in Galway was one of those who attended the hastily arranged assembly in the Clarion Hotel, Dublin last night, where it is believed pharmacists will make it clear they want to find a resolution to the dispute immediately.

Speaking to the Galway Independent yesterday, Mr Walsh said, "An ideal solution would be to talk to Minister Harney. This dispute could rear its ugly head at any stage, because as it stands the unions do not need to be consulted on the slightest change.

"We got no official notice of the last set of cutbacks and we only heard of it in a press release. We deserve the same treatment as all unions."

However the dispute, which is entering its third week, is starting to anger opposition parties, who feel it has gone on too long. They are calling for immediate intervention to settle the dispute.

Galway West Fine Gael Senator, Fidelma Healy Eames has called for a speedy resolution to the crisis in the midst of the increasing threat posed by Swine Flu. She said pharmacies would be essential in tackling the virus and called on An Taoiseach Brian Cowen to intervene directly.

"With fears growing on a daily basis about a Swine Flu pandemic, Minister Harney has a moral duty to resolve this dispute. Yet she seems to have forgotten her responsibility for the health service, and for the nation's health and wellbeing.

"Taoiseach Brian Cowen must now intervene personally, given that Minister Harney refuses to do so," she said.

Labour Party President and Galway West TD, Michael D Higgins, meanwhile, has called for third party intervention, saying, "it would achieve a speedy resolution to the pharmacies crisis." "This situation has dragged on for far too long. It is crucial now that the posturing end and that real and genuine steps be taken towards resolving the impasse."

Deputy Higgins said that third party intervention would also bring facts to light the public may not be aware of. "It is certainly in the in public interest that all matters pertinent to the impasse be put into the public realm, including the cost of consultancy, the consultants used, and the terms of reference which they were given, the conclusions reached and the payments made for such consultancy."

"This is a responsibility which the Minister, the HSE, as well as the pharmacists, have to shoulder. The bickering and wrangling must now end and positive steps taken in order to bring this sorry episode to a close," he said. The HSE also confirmed to the Galway Independent that methadone treatment in the city has not been affected in the city and county. A spokesperson for the HSE said, "Methadone is funded via the Methadone Protocol Scheme, which is administered via the GMS payments board, which is a free scheme to all.

"There are 29 pharmacies who dispense Methadone in Galway and the Methadone Maintenance Scheme is not affected by the new reduction in State Drugs Scheme payments to pharmacists. The Methadone Maintenance Scheme is not part of the same agreement."

A further seven pharmacies have rejoined the HSE's medical card state drug scheme over the past week, bringing the total still dispensing to medical card holders to 90 in the city and county. In Clifden, which has received much press attention, all three pharmacies remain outside the agreement and are still not dispensing as of going to print.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment