The Irish Medical Organisation has accused pharmacists of substituting drugs to increase profits.

The union, which represents doctors in Ireland, says patient health is being compromised as a result.

The IMO claims patients are regularly reporting incidents where their prescriptions were being changed without their knowledge or consent.

It has accused pharmacists of swapping medicines prescribed by doctors for cheaper ones.

And it says this is not only a breach of legislation but is also causing great distress and putting patient health at risk.

The union says it has expressed its concerns with the Department for Health but has yet to receive a reply.

Generic medicines are perfectly good alternatives in most cases but the IMO says they're not always identical.

And it argues that this could create problems with other medication that the patient is taking.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland says it has received a very small number of complaints in relation to this issue