Morrisons in-store pharmacy sales are yet another loud warning signal for Government and the NHS

As reported in the national media, major UK supermarket Morrisons is set to sell dozens of its community pharmacies in order to cut costs. Morrisons has launched a sale process after concluding that many of its in-store pharmacies are not financially viable. This news highlights the real economic peril facing pharmacy businesses and the urgent need for a sustainable funding model.

Our CEO, Janet Morrison, said: 

“The news that yet another large business is having to sell community pharmacies will come as no surprise to those battling to survive in the current climate. The pressures on pharmacy businesses are extreme, and this news should be yet another loud warning signal for Government and the NHS: the impact of the £2 billion annual funding gap, along with other pressures, is leaving the vast majority of pharmacy businesses in real economic peril. Without intervention, we will see only more news like this, and worse. While large companies can take decisions like this to sell stores in order to cut costs, many independent and family business owners are trapped by debts, leases and the fact they have invested their own funds and pensions in order to keep their pharmacies open. Government must urgently develop a roadmap for community pharmacy’s future and make immediate progress towards a sustainable funding model.”