Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the provisions she has made to ensure continuity of supply of drugs and other essential medical necessities to medical card holders after 1 May 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15000/08]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the measures she is taking to ensure that the Health Service Executive negotiates with the pharmacists' unions to avert withdrawal of medical card services by pharmacists from 1 May 2008 onwards; if her attention has been drawn to the level of stress and anxiety that this is causing to persons who are on long-term medication; if she will provide a commitment that she will intervene in this dispute to ensure that the lives, health and well-being of patients of limited means are not placed under threat; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15108/08]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the dispute between the Health Service Executive and pharmacists here; if she will intervene to bring about a resolution to the crisis situation wherein a significant number of pharmacists have indicated that they will resign from their contracts with the HSE as and from May 2008; her views on the effect this will have on patient services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15172/08]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the large number of pharmacists here who have written to the Health Service Executive indicating that they may have to withdraw from the medical card and other State schemes; if she will intervene to ensure that this does not happen; if she will instruct the HSE to await the report of the independent body which is due to report on this issue by the end of June 2008 before changing pharmacists' contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15252/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 163, 172 and 178 together.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) have been reviewing the pharmaceutical supply chain, with a view to seeking value for money in the State's drugs bill, in order to better fund existing and innovative therapies without compromising patient safety or continuity of supply. The Government supports the HSE's decision to pay an 8% mark-up from 1 March, and 7% from 1 January 2009 which will be applied by reducing the reimbursement price paid to community pharmacy contractors from those dates. I would point out that the new reimbursement arrangements for wholesale supply, announced by the HSE on 17th September 2007, followed the completion of a consultation process, and were informed by the independent economic analysis carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants. The report by Indecon was published by the HSE on 13 November 2007. All aspects of the Indecon report were considered by the HSE in making its determination.

In response to demands from community pharmacists to address the alleged impact of the new wholesale pricing arrangements, the HSE has offered a voluntary interim contract with a flat rate dispensing fee of not less than €5 for all dispensing under the GMS and community drugs schemes. I have also established an Independent Body to assess an interim, fair community pharmacy dispensing fee to be paid for the medical card scheme, the DPS and other community drug schemes. This Body is being chaired by Mr Sean Dorgan, former Head of IDA Ireland. It has been asked to make its recommendations by the end of May 2008. Both the HSE as the contracting body and the IPU as the representative organisation for community pharmacists, along with other stakeholders, will be entitled to make submissions to the Independent Body.

Based on its consideration of submissions received and its own independent evaluation, the body will recommend an appropriate dispensing fee that would, in its view, represent a fair and reasonable price to be paid for the pharmaceutical service currently being provided by community pharmacists to the HSE under the GMS and community drug schemes. If approved by Government, it will be backdated to the date from which any individual community pharmacist may choose to avail of the HSE's offer. I have been informed by the HSE that it has, to date, received notification from 400 community pharmacy contractors indicating their intention to either cease providing services from 1st May 2008, or otherwise reserving their right to do so.

Community pharmacy contractors are required under the terms of their contract to give three months notice of their intention to withdraw. The HSE has written to each of the 400 contractors, seeking formal confirmation of their intentions and pointing out that 3 months notice of cessation of service is required. At this point in time, only two contractors have actually given formal notification of termination in accordance with the requirements in the contract. The HSE has developed a national contingency planning framework which will inform and provide direction to local operational management for the development of local area-specific contingency plans. As service provision, geographical and demographic circumstances will vary from area to area, each local health area is developing its own area-specific contingency plan within the context of the overall national framework. Threats of withdrawal from the community pharmacy contract are unjustified and are not in anyone's interest. I do not wish to see any patient inconvenienced in any way and expect community pharmacists to fulfil their professional obligations under the terms of their contracts.