Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive's decision to reduce the reimbursement rates paid to pharmacists from 1 March 2008 under the community drugs schemes represents a breach of the existing contract between the HSE and pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14813/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) does not accept that it is in breach of contract with community pharmacists and has written to all those pharmacists who have notified it of their intention to withdraw services pointing out that, under the terms of the community pharmacy contractor agreement, each pharmacy contractor is required to give three months notice in writing of termination of the agreement. The HSE also points out that, in the interests of patient care and safety, it has no option but to require pharmacists to continue to provide services until the end of that period. This is to ensure that the HSE is in a position to put alternative arrangements in place for patients who may be affected by the actions of individual pharmacists.