Local pharmacists, their staff and patients are expected to protest outside Abbey Court House this morning (Thursday, May 1) at 8.30am.

The meeting, which is expected to be attended by pharmacists from across the city and county, comes as the dispute centering on the level of reimbursement pharmacists receive for drugs dispensed under the Community Drugs Scheme, escalates.

Last night, pharmacists from Cork travelled to Dublin to attend an emergency meeting organised by the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) to discuss the current situation facing pharmacists following talks with the HSE this week.

Meanwhile, this morning's protest comes just hours before the Health Service Executive is expected apply to the High Court for an injunction compelling pharmacists who said they would cease providing services under their contract on May 1, to fulfil their contractual obligations.

While the HSE says that it has to date received formal notification from only two community pharmacy contractors, in accordance with the requirements of their contract, that they will be terminating their contract with the HSE, Cork IPU representative Keith O' Hourihane says 80 to 100 pharmacists in Cork alone have written to the HSE and told them that they were considering or would cease providing services under their contract from today .

The HSE has received approval from the High Court to seek injunctions against nine community pharmacy contractors, none of which are based in Cork.

Meanwhile, the HSE says it is actively reviewing its contingency arrangements and is keeping the situation under review on an hourly and daily basis. Patients who have any questions can contact the HSE's national information line on 1850 24 1850.

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