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CPS disappointed at 2019-20 funding package
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Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) has said it is disappointed at the financial package for 2019-20 offered to the sector by the Scottish government.
The new deal will see £2.6m added to the global sum, taking it to almost £183.6 million, while £1.1 million set aside for the Pharmacy First service (UTI and impetigo only) will go towards remuneration for community pharmacy services.
Another £20 million will go from drug tariff reimbursement to guaranteed remuneration, bringing total funding to over £224 million.
CPS also said the reimbursement guaranteed minimum will be reduced to £80 million, with 100% of the first £10 million over the guaranteed minimum retained by community pharmacy “if market conditions allow.”
CPS said: “To pay back through claw-back what was owed to health boards, a generic rate of 6% will be applied from the 1st of April. This will be monitored to ensure delivery of the agreed amount throughout 19-20.
“Should cashflow be negatively impacted through 19-20, this 6% claw-back rate could be adjusted or suspended to support the network.”
CPS added: “While the package could not be accepted by the CPS Board, we do appreciate the constructive nature of the intense talks with Scottish Government colleagues who worked to try and achieve an acceptable outcome.
"The financial package is not quite the one that CPS wanted to see, there are nevertheless many outputs within this package that CPS were willing to accept.
“In particular, we welcome the commitment to Pharmacy First through the introduction of funding into guaranteed streams and we remain committed to working with the Scottish government and others to ensure that this builds towards the extended minor ailment service from April 2020.”
Martin Green, chairman of the CPS Board, said: “We are not quite where we want to be with this negotiated financial package and I sincerely hope that we can continue to work with the Scottish government to resolve our one remaining difference and will be looking for a commitment to do so.
“Nevertheless, this financial package has been negotiated during a time of significant political uncertainty and during a financially challenging period for all parties involved.
“We have reached this point and are disappointed full resolution couldn’t be achieved but will continue to work on designing future services for patients such as the extended minor ailment service which should be ready to roll out in April 2020.”
National Pharmacy Association board member for Scotland Phil Galt said: “We applaud both the constructive spirit in which the talks have been conducted and the continued commitment on all sides to developing community pharmacy services, including the Pharmacy First programme.
“Scotland’s Achieving Excellence Strategy, in particular Pharmacy First, is very much in line with the NPA’s view of community pharmacies as people’s front door to health care and healthy living.
“We look forward to more details emerging as soon as possible to enable our members to plan ahead with the fullest possible knowledge of the financial situation.”
Numark’s head of professional and patient services Rajshri Owen said: “Although this is a one-year commitment, Numark recognise that although a year of stability and predictability is an advantage, however, a longer period of funding assurance would have been favoured by Scottish contractors particularly as we still remain uncertain how, when or even if, Brexit will happen.”