'Elderly will welcome pharmacy announcement'

12.00.00am GMT Thu 27th Mar 2003

Alliance Assembly member Kieran McCarthy has said that news that the Health Minister has today rejected pharmacy deregulation in Northern Ireland will be warmly welcomed by elderly people.

Mr McCarthy, who had spoken out against pharmacy deregulation, said: "The ill thought-out plans for deregulation would undoubtedly have led to the demise of the community pharmacy. That in turn would have led to greater social exclusion, particularly for the elderly.

"We have a large rural population here, and deregulation would simply have led to pharmacies being situated in more profitable towns and cities - not where they are actually needed.

"Community pharmacies are vital to many, and I thank the Minister for putting health before profit."

ENDS