Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. It is welcome that the Minister is to meet the IPU this week. The conference was mentioned. The comments that the Minister made there have left pharmacists feeling let down and betrayed because they had the impression that the FEMPI measures would be unwound. They also believed that their submission to Sláintecare could save the State €90 million or more on biologic medicines. This contrasts with the proposed cuts, which would take €50 million out of the service.

This situation is causing significant worry. If we are to succeed with Sláintecare and in delivering at community level, it is crucial that the concerns raised by the IPU and pharmacists more widely are addressed as soon as possible so that they will not have this issue hanging over them going into the Christmas period. There will be a knock-on effect on their staff, who feel that they will be impacted, particularly in rural areas, by what they have seen from the Department to date.

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