Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

MEL EVANS/AP

Union criticises 'flawed' newspaper report on pharmacy mark-ups

The Irish Pharmacy Union criticises an Irish Independent report that some chemists mark-up prices by up to 354 per cent.

THE IRISH PHARMACIES UNION has criticised a newspaper report which claimed that some Irish chemists were imposing a mark-up of up to 354 per cent on some prescription drugs.

Today’s Irish Independent reported that some some prescription medicines cost significantly more in the Republic of Ireland than in the North because of the mark-ups being charged by pharmacists.

It carried details of one drug – Pfizer’s anti-cholesterol drug Lipitor – which cost over €65 in the Republic, but less than €49 in the North – a far greater gap than the wholesale prices for the drug in each jurisdiction.

The IPU this afternoon criticised the report, describing it as “flawed” because it did not consider the aspects of a pharmacist’s business other than the supply of medicine to private patients.

The union said pharmacists were operating “on a wafer-thin margin, with one in five pharmacists operating at a loss”.

In 2009, it said, the average pharmacist recorded a net profit of around four per cent of their total turnover – a figure which was likely to have fallen in the meantime.

The union accused the article of also ignoring the volume of medicines dispensed to people with medical cards – for which pharmacists receive a basic dispensing fee, but no actual mark-up on the drug being sold.

“Pharmacy remains a profession under massive pressure and suffering huge Government interference and the outlook for the profession remains very challenging,” the union said.

The Independent’s article carried criticisms from the HSE and the Consumers’ Association of Ireland, with the latter describing prices in Irish pharmacies as “outrageously high”.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
18 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds