The Irish Pharmacy Union is warning that some pharmacy services will have to be curtailed due to increased financial pressures.
The warning comes as it's been revealed that one in ten pharmacies are loss making which has led to a reduction in services such as the ending of late night services, Sunday closures and earlier closing times on a Saturday.
The IPU says community pharmacies have had a pay freeze for the last 15 years and this is having an impact on the viability of some pharmacies with more closing than opening.
IPU president and Cloyne based pharmacist Dermot Twomey told RedFM News that while pharmacists are patient focused they also need to be financially viable.
"Ultimately, we're patient focussed, we're a healthcare part of the sector and we want to provide the right services for patients.
"However, it has to be underpinned by a strong dispensing fee in order to pay for these services."
