Madam, - Tim O'Malley's contribution on the pharmacists' dispute with the HSE (March 1st), despite its patronising tone and verbosity, eventually requests the HSE to withdraw its "clawback" action.
I agree that the most important party to this dispute is the vulnerable patient.
Perhaps Mr O'Malley's time in the corridors of power has blurred his vision, but since when has the HSE shown any consideration for the patient?
I contend that the HSE is dysfunctional and determined to justify its existence (and Mary Harney's legacy) by creating an administrative monolith that is more concerned with meeting budgets than delivering healthcare services to those vulnerable patients.
The same Minister is showing an iron fist to community pharmacists, a fist she lacked when setting up the HSE, when she failed to implement a rationalisation of health board employees.
The HSE now has 800 grade 8 managers, at a salary scale of €65,000 to £80,000 per annum. At the abolition of the health boards, this figure was 200.
The former minister could do well to read the Indecon report which states that "comparisons with other countries are of little benefit".
As for the study of the effects of the HSE ruthlessness, I think that every TD in the country has seen sets of accounts that show the unbearable losses facing young and in debt pharmacists in the new regime.
I do not accept that Mr Dorgan's review body is independent nor will it bring forward proposals that will offer a "way out" of this HSE-created mess.
The HSE action will result in the community-based service being available only in large urban centres operated by Boots, Tesco or Unicare.
The Minister won't say it publicly but this is what she wants because her HSE advisers tell her the large multinationals can absorb the costs.
Meanwhile, a fine body of caring, frontline, professionals who have been providing a service, quietly and efficiently, to generations are put out in the cold. - Yours, etc,
BRIAN O'REILLY, MPSI,
Naas.