Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

My concern, as Minister for Health and Children, is the contract that the HSE has with pharmacists for the professional service they provide. That contract, paid by way of dispensing fees in 2007, cost €367 million and no money is being taken off that. On the contrary, we are offering a 70% increase for GMS dispensing. Pharmacists have varying discount arrangements with wholesalers. I understand they vary from 1% to 2% where there is very low volume, up to discounts of 12% or 13%. I am not a party to that, as Minister for Health and Children.

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