Responding to the Government's 2026 Budget, Henry Gregg, Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association said:
"With the Government rightly focussed on everyday fixes for millions of people, they need to remember that community pharmacies are the bedrock of our communities and the neighbourhood health service and support them accordingly.
"It is good news that the Chancellor has listened to the concerns of the NPA and others and have extended business rates relief to more pharmacies in England, although many with higher rateable values will still be hit by this tax.
"Pharmacies have faced very significant increases in their business rates in recent years and we have been clear that without urgent action, some pharmacies could be at serious risk of closure.
"However, it is still grossly unfair that pharmacies are forced to pay business rates at all, given that both GP and NHS dentist colleagues are exempted. The government must reform the business rates system to exclude pharmacies from it entirely.
"Pharmacies want to do all they can to support and attract staff and help those working for them cope with a rise in the cost of living. However, 90 per cent of our funding comes from the NHS and pharmacies cannot flex their costs to absorb these increases in the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage.
"If the government wants to allow pharmacies to expand and bring care close to home, they must support them meet these imposed costs or risk pharmacies having to cut back on services to patients to afford them.
"Pharmacies are central to the government's 10 year plan ambitions to reduce pressure from the wider health system. However, they are under enormous pressure and have been closing in record numbers due to a decade of underfunding.
"The Health Secretary must ensure pharmacies see sustained long term increases to their funding if we are to being an end to pharmacy closures and instead expand the services they offer their patients."
