Amidst closures and funding crises, local pharmacy like S.G Barai Pharmacy, are taking a stand to safeguard essential future of pharmacy
“I dread the day, the accountant turns to me and says ‘this isn’t working’ – as an owner, we shelter our patients and teams from the financial pressures we feel on a daily basis,” shares S.G Barai Pharmacy owner, Reena Barai.
Today, S.G Barai Pharmacy in Sutton, Surrey joined pharmacies nationwide in the #SaveOurPharmacies day of action, organised by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) to spotlight the critical funding crisis facing community pharmacies across the UK.
Recent figures reveal that over the past decade, more than 1,400 pharmacies have closed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with additional closures looming in Scotland due to financial pressures.
The NPA reports that three-quarters of pharmacies are operating at a loss, exacerbated by real-terms cuts to funding.
“We turned our lights off and wore black today to symbolize the precarious situation pharmacies like ours are facing,” said Reena Barai who owns the pharmacy.
“We are discussing our funding plight with all our patients. Asking everyone to sign our petition. Asking everyone to support us on social media.”
Thank you to all our wonderful patients who came at 9am this morning to support our action today to #saveourpharmacies. One lady’s family have been using our pharmacy since it opened in the 1930s, 3 generations have had the benefit,will future generations? Fair funding is the ask pic.twitter.com/wohstZKLE6
— Reena Barai (@REENABARAI) June 20, 2024
During the day of action, S.G Pharmacy engaged patients in discussions about the funding challenges and encouraged them to support the pharmacy’s petition, both in-person and on social media.
“Patients are coming in concerned we are closing down. We then explain that our funding is being squeezed and so many are closing down. This then adds pressure to the ones who are left behind,” Barai noted.
One poignant interaction highlighted the pharmacy’s deep community roots.
“A patient shared that her family has relied on our services since the 1930s,” Barai explained.
“Her great grandmother and mother used our pharmacy since it opened in the 1930s- that 3 generations of a family (were) supported by their local pharmacy.”
“It would be so sad if the community lost this local lifeline in the future because there wasn’t adequate funding to keep it open,” the patient told her.
In an exclusive conversation Paul Rees, Chief Executive of the NPA, underscored the urgency of the situation, stating, “Ministers must do more to help community pharmacists who are being forced to close in record numbers.”
As pharmacies across the country unite in this day of action, S.G Pharmacy urges policymakers and the public alike to recognise the critical role pharmacies play in community healthcare.
“Pharmacies are vital community resources; help us protect them,” Barai urged.
