Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday, the Irish Pharmaceutical Union lobbied Oireachtas Members. The IPU represents 1,600 community pharmacists who are concerned that the HSE will not enter into meaningful discussions with them. The HSE refuses to negotiate with the IPU, which represents all pharmacists throughout the country, but is prepared to negotiate with the Irish Medical Organisation and others. The health boards were willing to negotiate with the IPU, a reputable representative body, when we were among their members.

The IPU has raised concerns about the idea of linking pharmacies to medical practices. As the buildings in which practices are housed are owned by doctors, they would get preferential treatment as far as the dispensing of medicines is concerned. They would have a vested interest in ensuring that high-cost medicine would be used instead of generic medicine, which is cheaper. They would have no reason to reduce the amount of drugs dispensed, as the dispensary owned by the medical practice would get the benefit. Serious issues must be examined and the Bill should tackle the situation.

That we are proud to be members of a Government party does not mean we can turn a blind eye to, for example, the transport of elderly persons to their medical appointments. I know of an ophthalmic case involving an 80 year old woman. Her file was examined in Castlebar rather than Roscommon to assess whether she should receive transport to meet an ophthalmic surgeon next Tuesday in Galway. Why will the surgeon not go to Roscommon to meet clients?