Pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock said pharmacies have a “greater role” in providing healthcare on the high street in response to a parliamentary debate that saw MPs from all three major parties urging for greater funding for the sector.
Kinnock announced that negotiations for a new pharmacy contract will begin in the New Year.
"I know that hon. Members across the House will be very interested in that, in terms of the contractual framework, the medicines margin and all of the funding," he said.
"We have a statutory duty to consult with the sector before we can make any announcement, but we are confident that we will start the negotiations early in the New Year."
The debate in parliament, which was secured by Liberal Democrat MP, Rachel Gilmore, involved 20 MPs who insisted the sector "could do even more to improve access to primary care”.
The focus of the debate was on pharmacies in the Devon and the south West region, though its was highlighted that pharmacies facing financial strain was a national issue.
Gilmore started the debate by explaining that fewer pharmacies are open now than at any time since 2008/09 “even though their workload is 40 per cent higher, in terms of annual prescriptions.”
She added: "The increase in workload is not sustainable, but that workload is too important not to receive proper backing from central government as they make headway on their ambition to create what they have referred to as a neighbourhood health service."
Kinnock praised community pharmacies for their "professionalism, hard work and dedication in providing excellent standards of patient care".
He added: “We want pharmacists to be providing new and impactful clinical services, including our future pharmacies prescribing service which will be imperative to deliver on the government’s mission and health and economic growth.”
The need for extra funding for pharmacy, which is currently working without a funding contract, was supported by Sadik Al-Hassan, the Labour MP for North Somerset and vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on pharmacy, who said the government "must provide a fair funding settlement".
“The prescription for pharmacy is an immediate funding settlement for this year to stabilise the sector with a sticking plaster while we look at the longer-term changes the industry needs,” he added.
Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England (CPE), said she hoped that debate showed the government the strength of support community pharmacy has in the midst of the "current crisis" faced by the sector.
“We are very grateful for the support of all MPs who took part in this debate to voice their support for increased funding for their local community pharmacies. Never before have we seen so many Parliamentarians recognising that pharmacies are in crisis and calling for investment,” said Morrison.
“I hope the minister noted the strength of feeling expressed at the debate from MPs worried and concerned for the long-term sustainability of healthcare provision in their communities. This of course reflects the desperation, and anger, of community pharmacy about the current crisis given all that pharmacies have done, and continue to do, for patients and the NHS.”
Morrison revealed CPE had been pushing to start negotiations for many months and that “this cannot happen quickly enough”.
“Urgent action is needed to keep pharmacies afloat and to protect communities’ access to medicine supply and health advice,” she said.
"We have been absolutely clear to Government and the NHS that without an adequate immediate funding injection they can expect to see many more closures – we look forward beginning negotiations early in the New Year.”
