THE NEW prescription charge has caused confusion among medical card holders but there were no reports yesterday of people refusing to pay it, according to pharmacists.
One pharmacist in Co Clare said many of his customers holding medical cards were unaware of the 50 cent per item charge introduced yesterday.
A Dublin pharmacist reported some anger among his customers, as well as confusion about how the €10 cap operates.
The Irish Pharmacy Union again criticised the Health Service Executive for failing to communicate with the public about the prescription charge applying to most medical card holders .
It warned that the charge could stop the sickest and poorest from taking their medicine.
IPU president Darragh O’Loughlin said pharmacists remained totally opposed to the charges but had been forced to collect them for the Government.
“This levy will cause hardship to many patients, particularly the homeless and those living in sheltered accommodation, and may even prevent certain patients from taking their medicines entirely,” he said.
Mr O’Loughlin pointed out prescription charges were abolished in Northern Ireland and Wales, while Scotland is also phasing out the levies.
He said certain patient groups – including the homeless, patients in sheltered accommodation and nursing homes – should be exempt from the charges.
Age Action Ireland also called for wider exemptions and said it was concerned the tax would prevent the sickest and poorest older people – many on multiple medications – from taking all their medicine.