Madam, - I am extremely disappointed in your Editorial of March 5th. Since when did you allow ghost writers to provide editorial comment in the paper of record? Which of the HSE spin doctors wrote this one? Please allow me to point out a number of inaccuracies.
The Pharmacy Bill was enacted in 2007 not 2005. The pharmacists' union did not "organise" a withdrawal from dispensing methadone to dependent patients. This was done on an individual basis and the service resumed when dedicated pharmacists realised that the HSE was incapable of providing an alternative service. I dare you to find a patient that did not feel pharmacists had a strong case in taking this action.
You are disingenuous to say that some of the "clawback" will come from the pharmacists' pockets. It will come from our employees and suppliers as well as our own income.
You are guilty of a gross inaccuracy when you state that "pharmacists charge a 50 per cent mark-up on all drugs". We get no mark-up on all medicines supplied on the GMS schemes, which account for 75 per cent of medicines dispensed in Irish pharmacies.
My colleagues will enter into talks with the Minister, in a heartbeat, to implement measures not affecting patients to save the Exchequer many millions of euro. All we ask is to be afforded the opportunity. - Yours, etc,
BRIAN O'REILLY MPSI, Naas, Co Kildare.
Madam, - I am one of the "small operators" in pharmacy referred to in your Editorial of March 5th. You state that "there is no certainty" that "some of the €100 million savings will eventually come out of their [ our] pockets". Yes there is and yes it will. Even the HSE will admit that.
If that were not the case, do you think I would have taken the very difficult decision to close my pharmacy in Ballybofey for the first time ever so that I could attend the meeting in Dublin?
I do not "play rough", nor do I "threaten the general public". Rather, I tell them the truth - which is that Minister Harney and the HSE are trying to bully "small operators" like me into accepting imposed changes in my existing contract with them and a new contract that they can terminate at six months' notice.
Madam, you began by stating that "it is hard to feel sympathy for pharmacists". I for one am not asking for your sympathy. I am, however, asking for fair play. - Yours, etc,
FRANCIS BONNER MPSI, Main Street, Ballybofey, Co Donegal.