Independent economic analysis will not be published before contract announcement, says NHSE

The independent economic analysis of pharmacy finances will not be published before a new funding contract has been announced despite calls for the immediate release of the review.

Last week, pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock said the final report was “nearing completion”.

However, whilst it has been shared with both the government and Community Pharmacy England (CPE), NHS England national director for primary care Dr Amanda said there are no plans for any imminent updates.

Doyle added that NHSE had agreed with CPE “not to comment publicly on anything related to the uplift or funding arrangements for the sector given we remain in consultation”.

Last month, Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC) chair Layla Moran wrote to Doyle asking for the report to be published “immediately”.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) also wrote to NHSE, demanding the immediate release of the report that was commissioned last autumn.

An open letter, signed by the owners of 3,034 pharmacies in England, calls for transparency on the funding gap amid ongoing contract negotiations.

The associations argued that withholding this analysis conceals the true extent of the sector’s financial plight from contractors and parliamentarians.

“We believe publishing this analysis now will help Ministers, the NHS and pharmacies chart a way to securing the stable and sustainable pharmacy network that our patients so desperately need,” they wrote.

NPA Chair Nick Kaye echoed these concerns, stating that the analysis would expose “the true and devastating extent to which funding for community pharmacy falls short.”

“The hundreds of pharmacy owners signing the open letter agree with us that pharmacies, patients and the public’s representatives in parliament should be allowed to see this vital information without further delay.

“There is no justification for the public to be kept in the dark on an issue of such national significance,” he added.

Doyle said that NHSE was committed to publishing the report in full but added: “we will publish the economic analysis report with the outcome of the (pharmacy contract) consultation”.