The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7186 p233-237
23 February 2002

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Irish pharmacists threaten court action

Pharmacists in the Irish Republic may go to court to try to block the deregulation of the pharmacy market (PJ, 9 February, p162).

Following a meeting with the Irish health minister, the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) said: "The minister was left in no doubt as to the anger and outrage of community pharmacists at his decision unilaterally to revoke the pharmacy regulations."

The IPU says that deregulation should not be implemented until a review group reports that was appointed three months ago by the minister to examine how regulations governing community pharmacy affect public access, pricing and competition.

Regional IPU meetings have been held in a mood of anger and militancy. At a meeting in Dublin, IPU president Marie Hogan denounced the minister's decision as reckless. "It will deliver independent community pharmacists into the hands of a few corporate bodies, and ultimately leave many vulnerable people without pharmacy services. As a result anyone, even a criminal, can operate a pharmacy and is entitled to a state contract. This is not in the public interest." She claimed that the future of as many as 300 rural pharmacies was now in jeopardy.

The IPU, she warned, would be taking action in the Irish High Court if the minister does not back down, seeking a judicial review of his decision on the grounds that he was not entitled to revoke the regulations in the way he did.

IPU general secretary Seamus Feely declined to discuss details of the protest campaign.