Natural justice demands repayment of Covid costs, says NPA, as annual contract negotiations begin

28 Apr 2021

 

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee announced today that formal tripartite negotiations on the arrangements for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) in 2021/22 have begun. They also confirmed that there is still no resolution on the extra costs borne by pharmacies in England to operate during the pandemic.

NPA chair, Andrew Lane, said:

“It is massively disappointing that pharmacies are still waiting for a resolution on Covid costs. The Prime Minister’s warm words about the heroics of pharmacy teams during the pandemic will sound very hollow unless he keeps his promise to reimburse pharmacies for the costs they have incurred to keep vital services running.

“Community pharmacies have kept their side of the bargain – staying open to keep people well, save lives and help the country out of lockdown.  In so serving the nation, pharmacies have incurred considerable extra costs that natural justice demands to be repaid.

“The NHS would not have been able to cope over the past 12 months without an accessible network of pharmacies near to where people live, work and shop.

“We need this sorted quickly, to avoid a collapse in morale and the acceleration of pharmacy closures.”

The negotiations announced today are between PSNC and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I).  Discussions will cover all service, funding and other arrangements for pharmacies in 2021/22, in line with the five-year CPCF deal.