Community pharmacists are under significant financial strain due to a flawed payment system, says the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). The disparity between medicine costs and government reimbursements means pharmacists are often making a loss, with some even covering costs from their own pockets to ensure patient access to medications. NPA member Olivier Picard described the model as unsustainable, citing monthly losses across various essential drugs. The NPA reports that underfunding has led to 1,500 pharmacy closures in England over the past decade. A government spokesperson maintained that reimbursements cover drug expenses and that safeguards exist for price fluctuations, but the NPA argues that funding for vital medicines remains “utterly broken.”
1 Like