Leitrim councillor warns of hardship as blister pack funding withdrawn
Cllr Padraig Fallon says withdrawing funding for blister packs will cause serious hardship for older people, those with disabilities, and others who depend on them to manage medication safely.
Sinn Féin Leitrim Councillor Padraig Fallon has urged the Government to immediately reverse its decision to withdraw funding supports for blister packs and monitored dosage systems for people with a clinical need.
He warned that the move will cause significant distress and hardship for some of the State’s most vulnerable households.
The call comes after a decision to end State funding for blister packs provided by pharmacies under the Community Pharmacy Agreement, a change that could leave patients facing a €20 charge from pharmacists to have their medication dispensed in this format.
“We have heard stories from across the country in recent days. People who have relied on blister packs now feel abandoned,” said Cllr Fallon.
“For thousands of people in Ireland, blister packs are a lifeline. They are not a luxury. People rely on them every day – older people managing multiple medications, people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, people with disabilities, mobility issues, brain injuries, or mental health challenges,” he added.
“For many, blister packs are what allow them to live independently and safely in their own homes. Instead of tackling waste in the health service, they are tackling those most in need,” he concluded.
Following backlash in the Dáil earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the issue would be revisited in discussions with the HSE and the pharmacy union.