Our policy work

Informed at every stage by frontline NPA members, our policy work is based on evidence and good practice

Our vision for pharmacy

We have made a powerful case for the vital role of pharmacy in local medicine supply, and supporting patients with medication. Proper funding for this essential work is vital.

We have argued for new services - properly funded alongside dispensing - to improve access for patients and open opportunities for pharmacies.

Our vision for pharmacies

Our prospectus for a modern community pharmacy network

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UK Community Pharmacies: An Indispensable Health Asset

This document aims to help members explain the extent of pharmacy’s challenges and the sector’s great potential for improving patient care.

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Wes Streeting holding the NPA's vision document

The 10 year plan for the NHS

Read our blueprint for pharmacies in the 10 year plan

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Optimising medication

At a time when NHS resources are stretched, our report shows how ensuring the best use of medicines is essential for both individual patients and the taxpayer.

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Prescribing

Independent prescribing represents one of the greatest opportunities for community pharmacy in many years to develop clinical services - improving access to NHS care and diversifying pharmacy income.

Pharmacies are uniquely placed to deliver IP based pharmacy services but prescribing cannot be introduced at the expense of funding for dispensing or other core services.

Our vision for prescribing in pharmacy

The NPA is providing a comprehensive prescribing support package for NPA member pharmacies, to give prescribers and pharmacy owners the confidence to deliver clinical care and grow what they offer to patients.

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Prescribing in Community Pharmacy

Workforce capacity implications of the GPhC Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists reform.

This new report by the NPA projects that there could be enough pharmacist prescribers nationally for every pharmacy in England to have at least one by 2031, due to changes meaning that graduate pharmacist now qualify as prescribers after their five year training.

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Latest on NPA independent prescribing research project

The NPA convened in July 2026 an expert discussion on independent prescribing, to critique and validate findings from NPA-commissioned research carried out over the spring & summer. A detailed write-up of that roundtable discussion is now available for general view.

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Funding

From thousands of national media appearances and our ground-breaking ballot on action in 2024, to direct lobbying with Ministers, we have been relentless in our pressure for fair funding to end 10 years of neglect for the pharmacy network.

Money's too tight to mention

Our summary of the NHS-commissioned analysis of pharmacy finance in England.

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Business rates

Community Pharmacy remains in a precarious financial position and the lack of business rates relief has contributed to the bleak financial picture facing our members, we have called for the GPhC registered areas of community pharmacies to be exempt from business rates, like GPs.

EY Report - the state of the sector

This report, commissioned by the NPA and produced by EY, drew on financial research conducted among NPA members to highlight concerns about the level of NHS funding.

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Other campaigning activities

Gareth Jones and Clare Ward at Labour part conference 2024

Fixing pharmacies to fix the NHS

How an expanded and full funded pharmacy network could deliver better care in communities and take pressure from the NHS

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Our Mission to Tackle Health Inequalities

How to beat the ‘inverse care law’ by investing in community pharmacies.

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Save Our Pharmacies

Our campaign to ensure fair funding for pharmacies and stop the closures that threaten access to vital health resources for communities.

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Invite your MP to your pharmacy

A toolkit to help you invite parliamentarians to your pharmacy so they can experience your issues and see what you do for your pharmacy

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Low Pay Commission Submission on the National Living Wage

In June 2026, the NPA commissioned research into the impact of increases to the National Living Wage on the sector and presented it as evidence to the Low Pay Commission.

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Pharmacists could save the NHS billions with medicines checks

Leading economists highlight return on investment from medicines optimisation.

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Hub & spoke

The NPA has been leading the debate on hub and spoke dispensing models since the concept was first proposed by the government in 2015. We have consistently challenged claims that hub and spoke will deliver efficiencies and patient safety benefits and remain concerned it may not deliver the intended benefits for independent pharmacies. We believe it's not a model for everyone, and it's not a magic solution to cost saving or patient safety, but it can work for some pharmacy models if owners wish to use it.

Responding to Hub & Spoke consultation

We made a strong call for a competitive playing field in hub & spoke and warned that no pharmacy should be penalised whether or not they chose to use a hub model.

Hub & Spoke Roundtable Report

In 2020, we held a roundtable with key industry players to look at the potential risks and benefits of hub and spoke dispensing models.

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Hub & Spoke research review

In 2020, we conducted a review of the evidence and literature around hub and spoke dispensing models.

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Hub & Spoke Report 2016

In 2016, we produced an in-depth report looking at the risks and potential benefits of hub & spoke models.

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Have your say

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Supervision

The NPA has been leading the debate on supervision for many years to protect the unique benefits of independent community pharmacy. Late in 2025, the General Pharmaceutical Council launched a sector-wide consultation into its draft rules and standards for both responsible and superintendent pharmacists.

After consultation with our members through two heavily attended webinars and via our board, the NPA backed the current maximum two-hour Responsible Pharmacist absence period and called for clarity on who would be authorised to dispense controlled drugs

We warned that the proposed standards do not cover the emerging technologies such as AI.

Championing Community Pharmacy

As the UK’s voice for independent community pharmacy, the NPA provides strong representation, specialist advice and hands-on support for pharmacy businesses.

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Olivier Picard interviewed in his pharmacy

Events

Explore our upcoming event and engagement opportunities for members and non-members including face to face and virtual events.

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