Some Parasitic Pharmacys to withdraw from Drugs Payments scheme

ircoha · 05-10-2007 10:33am #1

Due to a row between the HSE and the Irish Pharmacys, some of their members have written to their customers telling them that from 1st November they will demand payment of the whole lot and let the customer reclaim the first 85 euro from the Govt.

Currently there is no mechanism for refunding the 85: this was done away with one the refund scheme was set up.

This was all covered on the kenny radio show this am.

Its time to boycott these parasitical people and only purchase from them what cannot be bought elsewhwere: ie prescription drugs.

Kristopherus · 05-10-2007 11:42pm

They get a 50% mark-up plus a Dispensing Fee for each Medical Card prescription they fulfil. We all know that the Medical Card Price is way cheaper than the full retail price that non Medical cardholders have to pay. What a rip-off. And then they have the cheek to claim they will go out of business. They are more than blood-sucking parasites. Anyone know a poor Pharmacist?

jahalpin · 06-10-2007 2:47pm

Kristopherus wrote:

They get a 50% mark-up plus a Dispensing Fee for each Medical Card prescription they fulfil. We all know that the Medical Card Price is way cheaper than the full retail price that non Medical cardholders have to pay. What a rip-off. And then they have the cheek to claim they will go out of business. They are more than blood-sucking parasites. Anyone know a poor Pharmacist?

Why does this make them parasites? They are running a business. It is very expensve to run a business what with the cost of rent, rates, wages, insurance, purchasing stock, security, loan interest etc..

I'm sure the HSE could arrange to re-instate the refund scheme with very little effort. The problem probably stems from the fact that the HSE can refuse to pay out for medical card claims for any reason they want and by the time they inform the pharmasist of their refusal to pay it will be too late

Red Alert · 06-10-2007 5:32pm

A bit like healthcare - you would expect them to be altruistic and espouse the values of their profession. If they want guarnteed bottom like they should buy a bookies.

parsi · 06-10-2007 10:42pm

Isn't the drug payment scheme the one where you pay the first 85 euro and that's it (per month) ?

Kristopherus · 06-10-2007 11:00pm

parsi wrote:

Isn't the drug payment scheme the one where you pay the first 85 euro and that's it (per month) ?

And the good thing about that is that it is 85 euro per family. A godsend for a lot of people. You wouldnt be long running up 85 euro with some of the prices that pharmacists charge.

parsi · 06-10-2007 11:06pm

I know. It's handy in fairness.
Don't forget that you can claim your prescription and doctor fees back via your tax as well (form Med1 available from revenue.ie has the details).

Saruman · 06-10-2007 11:08pm

I think i remember when it was half that:D €45 or so... Yes if i got something from a pharmacy who then looked for the full price and expected me to reclaim... i would walk out the door with my prescription... Would not have to go far since pharmacies are like McDonalds in the US.. one on every street corner

Then again, in the US there is also a Walgreens in every street corner

parsi · 06-10-2007 11:18pm

See that's where I'm confused - the Op states that the pharmacies will make us claim the 85 euro back but up to now we have had to pay the 85 ..?

Saruman · 07-10-2007 10:37am

What he is saying is right now, you pay €85 regardless of how much the drugs cost, lets say €350.. you pay €85 and the state covers the rest.

What he is saying is some will charge you the FULL ammount... which could be hundreds if not thousands and you will have to apply to the government for a refund. Im assuming of the cost of the drugs minus €85 you have to pay... at least i think thats what he is saying.

Kurtosis · 07-10-2007 11:29am

Kristopherus wrote:

They get a 50% mark-up plus a Dispensing Fee for each Medical Card prescription they fulfil. We all know that the Medical Card Price is way cheaper than the full retail price that non Medical cardholders have to pay. What a rip-off. And then they have the cheek to claim they will go out of business. They are more than blood-sucking parasites. Anyone know a poor Pharmacist?

You're incorrect there, on Medical Card prescriptions there is no mark-up at all, the only profit made is the €2-3 dispensing fee, which on items that can be priced up to a few hundred euro, that's quite a low profit margin.

Some Parasitic Pharmacys to withdraw from Drugs Payments scheme

Comments