As the sector eagerly awaits the finalisation of contract negotiations in England, Numark has underscored the urgent need to modernise the remuneration model.
Harry McQuillan, chairman of Numark, argued that the traditional approach isn’t just outdated but is “holding the sector back.”
He suggested shifting the pharmacy funding model from a purely supply-driven approach to one that focuses more on patient-first clinical services.
While community pharmacies in Scotland and Wales have secured a 6% funding uplift for 24/25, England is still waiting for clarity.
“It’s a frustrating position for a sector that has proven time and again it can step up, deliver, and ease pressure on other parts of the NHS,” Harry said.
He stressed that community pharmacy has never been more vital, and at the same time never been under greater strain.
“All of that goodwill and resilience unfortunately won’t keep pharmacy doors open,” he stated, calling for “fair and sustainable funding” to ensure “we can keep doing what we do best, caring for patients.”
The NHS Long Term Plan clearly shows that the future of primary care relies on better integration, earlier interventions, and a shift towards prevention.
According to McQuillan, community pharmacy is already delivering against this vision, expanding its role in prescribing, common clinical and long-term condition management, and vaccinations.
“At Numark, we’ve set out 12 key principles to guide the future of community pharmacy, and fair funding is at the core of them,” he said.
“If pharmacies are to play their full role in primary care, funding must reflect the value we bring, whether it’s improving access to care, reducing medicine waste, or preventing avoidable hospital admissions.
“This security encourages pharmacy owners to engage with evolving health systems and invest in their practice for the benefit of all,” he added.
Progress on funding negotiations
England recently took a step forward with the announcement that the Westminster Government has finally made a funding offer to Community Pharmacy England (CPE).
During their recent meeting, the CPE Committee spent considerable time reviewing and discussing the proposal.
CPE chief executive Janet Morrison acknowledged that this is an “extremely stressful and worrying time” for all pharmacy owners but said further about the negotiations could not yet be disclosed due to the government’s strict confidentiality requirements.
Janet added that the full Committee will decide whether to accept or reject the final offer after detailed negotiations.
Recognising the complexity of the situation, Harry said: “The issue now of course is whether that offer is sufficient to at least stabilise the network and then comes the decision, should an offer be accepted, of how you pay the funding out.
“That appears simple enough, my experience tells me it is not.”
The risk of inaction
McQuillan warned that without adequate funding, more pharmacies will be forced to close, leaving the communities that rely on them to suffer.
“Community pharmacy is not looking for handouts, we’re looking for fair investment to a sector that consistently delivers.”
“Without that, the risk is clear; pharmacies will be forced to cut back services, reduce hours, or worse close their doors.
“And once a pharmacy is lost, it’s gone. The communities that rely on them will feel the impact and won’t receive the early intervention or a preventative agenda that the policy direction desires.”
Numark remains confident in community pharmacy’s future and its ability to adapt, innovate, and lead in healthcare. However, McQuillan stressed that belief alone isn’t enough.
“Now is the time for action,” he urged.
