The HSE has this evening accused the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) of deliberately misrepresenting the facts over the number of pharmacies that have withdrawn from State drug schemes.
In a statement issued tonight, the Health Service Executive (HSE) accused the union of deliberately using inaccurate information to create concern in the minds of patients.
Hundreds of pharmacists have this weekend withdrawn from the various schemes - which include the medical card and the drug payment scheme - in protest at cuts in fees and payments of €133 million introduced by the Government.
The HSE has said that over 1,000 pharmacies would continue to provide services under the scheme, but it had put in place contingency plans.
But, speaking this afternoon, IPU president Liz Hoctor said the union understood that as many as 800 pharmacists had either closed altogether or were not dispensing under the State drugs schemes
The union claimed HSE contingency plans have "failed dismally" with widespread shortages and delays being experienced by patients using the special HSE dispensary services in Donegal, Kerry and Mayo yesterday. She added there were no back-up facilities operating in Waterford and Cavan.
The IPU has warned that the situation is likely to worsen during the week.
The executive said tonight that it was not in dispute with pharmacies and claimed that the current situation is due to selected pharmacies who have exerted their right to terminate their contracts.
“The IPU has no access to our records of the number of pharmacies who have terminated their contracts. It therefore has no accurate information about who has terminated their contact and who has not, other than anecdotal information and hearsay,” said Laverne McGuinness, national director of the HSE’s Primary, Continuing and Community Care.
“The IPU is deliberately using inaccurate information to create concern and worry in the minds of patients and clients. It is remarkable for a professional body to behave like this,” she added.
Ms McGuinness said the HSE was endeavouring to support patients and stressed that its teams had been working flat-out to shore up gaps in service which some pharmacies have left behind.
The HSE today wrote to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to draw its attention to the actions of some pharmacies in recent days, which Ms McGuinness said warranted investigation due to a serious lapse in professional standards.
“While the HSE cannot replicate the services provided by pharmacists around the country its contingency plans yesterday ensured that no patient in urgent need was left without medication,” said Ms McGuinness.
The HSE has put in place alternative dispensing facilities in 10 locations in counties Roscommon, Donegal, Mayo and Kerry. A further two facilities - in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim and Falcarragh, Co Donegal - are on standby.
The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, maintained cuts will cut payments to pharmacists by 24 per cent, but stressed they will continue to earn high margins on prescriptions similar to what was paid in 2006 and 2007.
But the IPU estimates the figures do not add up and that its members will be hit with an unsustainable 34 per cent cut.
A full list of the participating pharmacies is available on the HSE website and by phoning the information line on 1850 24 1850.
