In News

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) brought together MPs, peers, pharmacists and the press during a parliamentary reception last night to drive further awareness of community pharmacy’s excellence and the financial pressures besetting it.

Addressing the audience, health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed described pharmacists as “pillars of the community” and paid tribute to the way they improve the health of their local communities.

Also in attendance was All-Party Pharmacy Group chair Sadik Al-Hassan and the event’s sponsor Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick who both expressed strong support for pharmacies.

NPA chair Olivier Picard, who also spoke at the event, said the reception was “an opportunity” to ensure MPs were “in no doubt about the challenges” facing under-pressure independent pharmacies “and what they can do to help us make the case for investment in this vital network upon which so many patients rely”.

“Amidst all the immense pressures our members are facing, we wanted to give our hard-working members a brief moment to gather together in a relaxed atmosphere to celebrate their fantastic contribution to the wellbeing of patients, communities and the NHS,” Picard said.

He reiterated his message that pharmacies urgently need “an above inflation funding settlement”, as the sector waits for talks on 2026-27 to start between Community Pharmacy England and the Government.

Picard also called on Labour to firmly commit “to a properly funded expansion of clinical services and comprehensive reform of the contractual framework”.

“For our part we will continue to work constructively with the Government, and with other pharmacy leaders, to achieve a fundamental shift from hospital to community-based care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan for England,” he said.

Pictured (L-R): NPA chief executive Henry Gregg, NPA chair Olivier Picard, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, All-Party Pharmacy Group chair Sadik Al-Hassan and health Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed.