Pharmacies in Wales to get additional payment of £1.4 million: NPA comments

The Welsh Government has announced an increase in community pharmacy funding of £1.4 million in 2018/19.

Minister for Health & Social Services, Vaughan Gething, said the payment is being made because inflationary pressures in pharmacy risk undermining the potential of community pharmacy to improve health and wellbeing.

In a letter sent to all contractors in Wales, Community Pharmacy Wales warned that it cannot be guaranteed that the additional funding will be built into the base budget going forward.

Steve Simmonds, NPA Representation Manager for Wales, said:

“Our members in Wales will welcome this additional funding although it is a single payment and there is no guarantee that it will be built into any future base budget settlement.

“In the current climate, even this small amount of additional funding will be a help to struggling pharmacies.  We take this as a sign of good faith from the Welsh Government, but not in any way a sustainable solution to escalating costs in the sector.  Going forward, extended flat funding would again lead to further pressure as operating costs continue to rise, with inevitable consequences for patient care.”

https://gov.wales/written-statement-community-pharmacy-funding-2018-19