THE HEALTH SERVICE Executive (HSE) has lodged High Court proceedings against a number of pharmacies.

The defendants include pharmacies based in Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Tipperary. Proceedings were initiated on Friday, 18 May.

The nature of the proceedings has not yet been disclosed by the parties involved, but there is an ongoing dispute between the HSE and a number of pharmacies over dispensing fees.

Previously, the HSE claimed that several pharmacies over-claimed these fees and asked for sums of money to be repaid. A number of the pharmacies involved have publicly denied non-compliance.

Irregularities 

In 2015, the RTÉ Investigations Unit highlighted irregularities in the level of dispensing fees being claimed by the Lloyds Pharmacy chain from the HSE.

At the time, Lloyds – which is Ireland’s largest pharmacy group with 94 branches nationwide – denied the allegations, saying: “We fully adhere to the HSE’s own phased dispensing guidelines, agreements and processes.”

However, in September 2016 it repaid the HSE €12 million. Following the revelations, the HSE undertook a wider review of the sector.

A spokesperson said the HSE cannot comment on the situation for legal reasons.

Comments are closed due to ongoing legal proceedings.