Impact of Budget on pharmacies

The British Medical Association (BMA) has stated it is in discussions with the Government about whether GP practices will receive funding to cover salary uplifts outlined in this week’s Budget.

We understand that those in the community pharmacy sector are also worried about the impact of the Budget on their pharmacy businesses, and have issued the following statement addressing this.

Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England, said:

“Community Pharmacy England is deeply concerned about the impact of the Autumn Budget on a pharmacy sector already in financial crisis. I met with the Care Minister Stephen Kinnock on the afternoon of the Budget and shared with him our reaction: the lack of mention of funding for primary care in the statement and the costly impact of changes to the National Living Wage, employer National Insurance contributions and business rates on community pharmacies. We have also shared our response with the Treasury.

In the wake of media coverage focussed on the potential impact of employer NI contributions on some healthcare providers, we are following up with DHSC officials on the detailed costings of the impacts of all the budgetary changes on community pharmacies. We are strongly arguing that any dispensations for health bodies should include community pharmacy and will be doing everything we can to push for funding to cover those additional costs for pharmacy owners.”