• Contact Us

NPA Loses Pharmacy Cuts Case, But Is the Future Brighter?

on Monday, 17 September 2018.

It has not been an easy couple of years for community pharmacy with big cuts to its funding announced by the Government in December 2015.

The National Pharmacy Association and Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee fought the cuts and have now lost their challenge, in the Court of Appeal.

Although the court decision is disappointing, it was not unexpected. They were unable to persuade the Appeal Court, just as with the High Court previously, that no rational person in the Health Secretary's position could have made his decision. Both Courts, though, have expressed sympathy with the position they found themselves in, and called the Government's decision-making process in the matter "regrettable".

Now, NPA Chair, Nitin Sodha, has called for all parties to seize the moment and engage in dialogue. The new Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has made much more positive noises about community pharmacy recently and its potential to keep people out of hospital. He has promised to invest in the sector. Mr Sodha would like to engage in discussions about the role that community pharmacy can play in improving the nation's health.

He said, "We are eager to move to a new chapter, in which there are urgent discussions about fulfilling community pharmacy's potential. When announcing its package of reforms in 2016, the Government has repeatedly promised transformational improvements involving the delivery of clinical services in community pharmacy. It's time to make good on these commitments. We are encouraged by Matt Hancock's recent pledge to invest in community pharmacy."

Comment

The legal case did not seem to have much chance of success, but it had to be fought. Now, with new personnel and a new approach, I hope there will be a bright new chapter for community pharmacy and its relations with the Government, which could at last see it fulfil its potential in providing more services for the public and keeping them healthy.


If you have any thoughts or questions around the potential role of community pharmacy, please contact Paul Gershlick in our Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences team on 01923 919 320.

Leave a comment

You are commenting as guest.