Fórsa’s hospital pharmacist members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a dispute over the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s (DPER) refusal to sanction an improved hospital pharmacy service which would deliver cost savings of €55 million per year.

The ballot concluded last week, and the union immediately served notice of a one-day strike action by 500 hospital pharmacists.

The strike action, which the union says is in response to the health employers’ breach of a 2020 hospital pharmacy agreement, will take place on Wednesday 16^th February.

Fórsa official Catherine Keogh said DPER had refused to sanction measures that had already been backed by the Department of Health and the HSE.

“These are measures which would save the taxpayer €55 million per year, and those savings have been validated by the employers, who have acknowledged considerable certified evidence that investment in pharmacy brings about reductions in the drugs budget, and in the overall cost of care to the health service,” she said.

The union said a range of measures, including the sanctioned use of ‘biosimilar’ medicines, new senior posts, and a new grading structure for hospital pharmacists have all been developed to improve and modernise hospital pharmacy services, and bring them in line with international best practice.

Catherine said: “Our hospital pharmacist members have backed industrial action by more than 94% on a strong ballot turnout, reflecting the depth of feeling among our members that these measures will radically improve the service, as well as deliver significant savings.” 

A ballot to strike last December was deferred due to the outbreak of the Covid Omicron variant. Catherine said the union had, in order to avoid strike action, sought recourse to the Labour Court, but DPER has instructed the HSE not to attend.

Catherine added: “Among the measures are a shortening of the pay scale for entry-level hospital pharmacists. This would make these posts more competitive in a labour market where entry-level retail pharmacy positions are more attractive due to a starting pay premium of at least 30% above entry-level hospital pharmacy, and often much higher.”