Update from Acting Secretary General – Fee Strategy

As advised last week, our short-term strategy is focused on entering talks with the government to seek an increase in our core dispensing fees. To support this strategy we have today publicly called on Minister Donnelly to begin substantive talks with us as a matter of urgency (see press release here). The following are among the key points that we are highlighting:

• We are the only sector that has received no recalibration of our fees since the financial crisis.
• To administer the current schemes not only are pharmacists paid less but the level of bureaucracy and administration around the schemes has gone through the roof. This is becoming unsustainable.
• Public servants and healthcare workers have experienced full FEMPI restoration.
• Community Pharmacists in essence have been excluded from the system with no proper process in place to adequately address pharmacy remuneration and state investment in the sector.

• The consequences of no fee increase is potential pharmacy closures and more pharmacies reducing their opening hours.

• In order to deliver further services that will alleviate pressure of other parts of the healthcare system such as the Minor Ailment Scheme and access to contraception we need investment in our core dispensing fees.

In short, we are saying to the Minister that all of the above can be addressed through talks with the Department of Health and the HSE to discuss fair and reasonable funding of the sector to reflect the current economic climate and the potential of the sector. We are therefore calling on the Minister for Health to treat us with the respect the sector deserves and to be treated fairly in line with the rest of the healthcare sector.

This important issue will be discussed further at our upcoming AGM this Saturday and I would encourage you to attend either in person or online.

In further news we have written to the PSI Registrar to outline our serious concerns with regard to the slow progress being made in the review of the current Third Country Qualification Route (TCQR) route and the lack of progress for implementation of this route. A copy of the letter is available here. The Standing Committee are meeting the President and Vice President of the PSI tomorrow Friday, 12 May to discuss this issue. Other items for discussion at this meeting include the cognitive burden associated with practising as a community pharmacist and members’ concerns related to fitness to Practise. We will keep you updated.