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The number of pharmacists employed through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) has increased for the 10^th successive month, according to the latest figures.

NHS Digital’s Primary Care Network Workforce report reveals 5,761 pharmacists were employed by GP practices last month compared with 5,732 in February and 5,687 in January this year.

The number of ARRS pharmacists has been increasing since June 2025 when there were 5,461, up from 5,437 in May 2025.

The number of pharmacy technicians employed under ARRS has been increasing since August 2024. Last month, 2,175 pharmacy technicians were working under the scheme compared with 2,165 in February and 2,155 in January this year.

The ARRS scheme has been criticised by key figures within community pharmacy who feel the Government should channel funding towards their sector instead of the general practice workforce.

Last month, the National Pharmacy Association’s director of corporate affairs Gareth Jones told Independent Community Pharmacist that community pharmacy would “deliver a better return for the NHS than the ARRS scheme ever can” with increased investment.

The Company Chemists’ Association has also criticised ARRS in recent years. In 2023, its chief executive Malcolm Harrison urged the then Conservative Government to immediately stop the recruitment of pharmacists into practices.

Last year, Harrison said ARRS was having a “devastating impact” on community pharmacy’s workforce. In August last year, an additional £14 million was put into ARRS, taking its total budget to £1.7 billion.