A Donegal-based Pharmacist says patience is wearing thin among his colleagues as a 14-year pharmacy pay freeze impacts patient care.
Tom Murray, who runs Murray’s Pharmacy in Ramelton and Castlefin, has joined the call for the government’s pay freeze to end.
An increasing number of pharmacies in Donegal face reducing hours and closing at weekends, he warned, adding that some pharmacists are at breaking point juggling drug shortages, extra administration work and rising costs.
Mr Murray, who is Treasurer of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), has accused Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly of leaving Donegal pharmacies in the dark over their future funding.
There are over 63 pharmacies in Co. Donegal supporting over 530 jobs in the county.
Pharmacists are now campaigning for meaningful engagement on fees to begin this month before a review.
Mr Murray said: “We are reaching the point where the future viability of many pharmacies is coming into question.
“Minister Donnelly is legally obliged to review pharmacy services and funding by the end of June 2023. Despite this deadline there has been zero engagement from the Minister.”
Mr. Murray said, “Community Pharmacy is now the only healthcare sector that has had no pay restoration since the financial crisis. There is no reason for this blatant discrimination, and it needs to change.”
“In 2009, pharmacies were paid an average dispensing fee of €6.00. That was cut during the recession and has never been restored despite costs being significantly higher. The IPU is calling for the introduction of a flat fee model of care being reimbursed at €6.50 per medicine. But above all else right now we are calling on the Minister for Health to engage with community pharmacies to discuss fees before the June 30 deadline.”
“The unfortunate reality is that we are seeing an increasing number of pharmacies reducing hours and closing at weekends. Patients are experiencing longer wait times for prescription medicines to be dispensed. This government has been warned that this would happen but sadly continue to sleepwalk into a major crisis, said Mr. Murray.
The IPU is urging Minister Donnelly to end the uncertainty and bring forward meaningful proposals for the future of the pharmacy sector.
Re-iterating the IPU’s request to meet with Minister Donnelly, Tom Murray said, “The IPU and our members will meet the Minister at any place at any time. After years of being taken for granted, we expect this basic courtesy to be extended to a sector that has consistently delivered.”
