The HSE is today writing to the 20 Clare pharmacists in a bid to clarify what disruption will result to community medicine services for people in the event that they decide to discontinue the provision of services under the various community drug schemes .The threatened disruption of services by almost half of Clare's community pharmacy contractors comes in response to the Government’s introduction of new payment rates to community pharmacy contractors.
A HSE spokeserson told The Clare Herald: "In the interest of ensuring continuity of supply of medicines to patients the HSE is writing to each community pharmacy contractor to find out what action, if any, they may take following indications that some contractors are considering discontinuing the provision of dispensing services to patients under the various community drug schemes from August 1st, 2009."
"A contingency plan is already being put in place by the HSE to ensure that supplies of medicines to people under the various State schemes will continue in the event of a discontinuation of services by some pharmacists. If people are concerned about receiving medicines in the event of threatened discontinuation of services they can contact their local pharmacist to see if they intend to continue to supply medicine services under these schemes after August 1st, 2009. The HSE is anxious to ensure that the supply of medicines to people continues in the event of any disruption of the current service. Alternative arrangements are being prepared to safeguard these services and will be implemented if required."
