The Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) today warned that plans to develop a chain of privately-run health centres could seriously undermine "the viability of community-based pharmacy services and raised serious ethical issues".
The Union, which represents 1,400 independent pharmacists, was responding to reports that private entrepreneurs plan to invest €500 million in a chain of health clinics which would bring together a variety of healthcare professionals including GPs and Pharmacists.
IPU president, Dr Karl Hilton, warned the "corporatisation" of medicine leads to deterioration in services for patients.
Dr Hilton said: "It's critical that doctors and pharmacists are seen to be completely independent of each other."
He said: "The Government's own pharmacy review group recommended that there should be no business relationship between doctors and pharmacists."
He also warned that locating pharmacies in health centres would allow a small number of players to corner the market.
"This will seriously undermine the viability of traditional, community based pharmacies leading to less choice for patients and clients," he claimed.
Dr Hilton said: "The Department of Health has created a policy vacuum in primary health care and that vacuum is now being filled by entrepreneurs whose primary interest is financial reward rather than professional health care."
He said: "If the Department doesn't clearly set down what will and will not be tolerated in primary health care provision, they will find that the horse has bolted while they are still trying to agree plans for the stable."
