Irish pharmacists warn 5,000 jobs at risk because of fee cut on State drug purchases; Costs doubled in 2002/2008 to €1.68bn - - up from €332m in 1997
Jun 19th, 2009 | By Finfacts Ireland Business & Finance Portal | Category: News worldwide
The Government announced on Thursday plans to cut to €133 million in payments to pharmacists over the coming year. The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), which represents about 1,900 pharmacists, said up to 5,000 pharmacy jobs could be lost as a result of the cuts and that frontline health services would be seriously damaged. The cost to the State of providing drugs has doubled since 2002 to over €1.68 billion in 2008 -- up from €332 million in 1997 - -and it costs €640 million to provide €1.04 billion of drugs at ex-factory prices, to patients.