Clare Pharmacists Claims Patients Will Suffer Most Without Sustainable Sectoral Investment

The Clare Branch of the Irish Pharmacy Union is calling on the government to preserve a crticial element of local healthcare in the upcoming budget. Under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest legislation (FEMPI) in 2009, the flat rate dispensing fee for community pharmacists was reduced from €6.00 to €4.58 per item. In the intervening period the price of distributing medicines in the sector has increased by 23%, sparking calls from the IPU for the imposition of a new rate of €6.50. Shannon Pharmacist Feidhlim Hillery says if providers are forced to shut up shop, patients will ultimately suffer the most.