Age Action is calling on pharmacists and the HSE not to engage in scare-mongering older people, but to work instead to ensure that older people are not adversely affected if hundreds of pharmacists follow through on their threat to withdraw from community drugs scheme.

“We are concerned that both pharmacists and the HSE have warned publicly in recent days that the dispute could pose a danger to the health of older people,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said. “The threatened escalation of this dispute is causing untold stress to older people who are concerned about the continued supply of their essential medications.  Older people should not be used as pawns in this dispute.”

Age Action has called on the HSE to publicise its contingency plans in order to reassure older people with medical cards that their needs will continue to be met in the event of their pharmacist withdrawing from the scheme. 

The charity is urging older people and their families to play their part in helping ensure that they experience as little disruption as possible. 

Older people who have cards should contact their local pharmacist to establish if they will continue to be served under the Medical Card scheme. If their pharmacist tells them they are participating in the withdrawal of services from May 1, the older person should request their prescription records and then contact the HSE information line 1850 241850 (which operates from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday) at the earliest opportunity.

“The HSE has said it has contingency plans to ensure Medical Card holders get the medicines they need,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said. “Older people can now help in this process by establishing as early as possible if they will be effected and, if so, to contact the HSE.”

“Age Action is particularly concerned for older people who may be house-bound, and/or may be living in isolated rural areas which are poorly served by public transport.  We are anxious that such people with multi-disadvantages are not hit by this dispute. If the HSE is to be alerted to these situations, then these older people, or their friends or neighbours, must establish if they are going to be affected by the dispute, and alert the HSE at the earliest opportunity so the HSE contingency plan can include them.”