Payment system flaws leave Scottish pharmacies in financial stress

Pharmacies have reported shortfalls of tens of thousands pounds due to errors in the system that was introduced last year   

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has called for immediate intervention by Health Secretary Neil Gray to compensate pharmacies left in financial chaos due to flaws in Scotland’s new pharmacy payment system.

Introduced last year, the system was designed to streamline payments to pharmacies, dispensing doctors, and medical appliance suppliers. However, the NPA, which represents independent pharmacies across the UK, reported that many pharmacies were facing repeated shortfalls in expected funding under the system.

Some pharmacies have encountered discrepancies of tens of thousands pounds due to errors in the Data Capture Validation & Pricing process introduced by NHS National Services Scotland.

In other cases, NHS Boards have clawed back money from pharmacies at short notice, following processing errors that had initially resulted in an overpayment.

The NPA highlighted that, despite recent improvements, the system continues to produce errors, leaving pharmacies without clear information on their payments even after a full year after its launch.

Paul Rees, chief executive of the NPA, said: “Our members are telling us they cannot plan, cannot settle their accounts and even face costly overdrafts or issues paying medicine suppliers because of issues with this troubled payment system.”

“In the 21st century we should not be facing a computer shambles of this nature – it’s just wrong that hard working community pharmacies should be facing financial stress because an IT system cannot get its sums right.”

They believe Ministers are ultimately responsible for this situation and should intervene to make sure the system is “fit for purpose” including “providing timely and accurate information and paying pharmacies the money they are owed - and also compensating those who have lost out.”