New cuts to pharmacy funding met with criticism

The government has confirmed that it will be making deep cuts to the current budget allocation for community pharmacies.

Currently set at around 2.8 billion pounds a year, the budget will be cut by seven percent, leading to a reduction of around 200 million pounds. Health minister David Mowat said this is because there is currently a surplus of high street pharmacies.

Citing examples where clusters of pharmacies can be found within walking distance of each other, the minister said the money saved through this initiative will be reinvested and reallocated towards other NHS services.

The news has been met with sharp criticism from organisations representing UK community pharmacies, with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society saying the move "defies logic" at a time when greater integration of primary care services has been identified as a priority for the NHS.

Sandra Gidley, chair of the RPS board for England, said: "Funding cuts will not improve the quality of care for patients delivered through community pharmacy."

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has also rejected the proposals, saying the Department of Health will now have to propose a revised package, or impose their funding changes against pharmacies' will.

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