Commenting on the decision to reduce business rates by 20 per cent for pubs, clubs and live music venues, Henry Gregg, Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association said:
“While hard pressed pubs and clubs will be pleased to have a tax break, pharmacies will be dismayed that they continue to be hit by the full force of this fast-rising tax, despite their pivotal role holding our high streets together and 90 per cent of their funding coming from the NHS.
"Pharmacies are central to NHS care in their communities yet don't have any of the concessions on rates enjoyed by GPs or other parts of the health service.
"Andy Burnham should direct some of his reforming zeal to stopping pharmacies from closing due to tax rises because millions of people in villages towns and cities across our country will see the benefit and thank him for it.
"Despite welcome funding increases over the past couple of years the government only funds just over half of the estimated cost of NHS pharmacy services, leaving pharmacies to pick up the bill on top of these imposed costs."
