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Independent pharmacists get in touch with ICP magazine with their views...

Dispensing at a loss and rising costs have pushed us to breaking point

For decades, our pharmacy has stood as a pillar of health and support, providing essential medications, advice and care to the people who need it most.

We have weathered countless challenges, adapting to changes in healthcare, patient needs and government policies. But today, we face a crisis that threatens our very existence - relentless funding cuts and increasing pressures.

Each year, we stretch our resources further, trying to maintain the high standard of care that our patients deserve. But the reality is harsh dispensing at a loss, absorbing increasing operational costs and shouldering growing administrative burdens.

These are pushing independent pharmacies like ours to breaking point. The recent increase in the national living wage, while a necessary step for workers, places even greater financial strain on struggling pharmacies.

Without the funding to support these wage increases, many pharmacies will be forced to make difficult decisions – reducing services, cutting hours or closing their doors permanently.

We do not take these decisions lightly. We know how much our patients rely on us, not just for their prescriptions, but for guidance, reassurance and the convenience of accessible healthcare.

We are determined to provide the best service possible, but without urgent government intervention, survival will become impossible.

We must make tough choices to keep our doors open, even if it means reducing our opening hours. We deeply regret this but the alternative is far worse.

Kal Shergill, D P Forrest Ltd, West Midlands.

Declining medication for end-of-life patients falls outside human dignity!

My business provides 50 per cent of end-of-life medication in the area. Morphine and midazolam injections, haloperidol, and so on, has been over Drug Tariff prices.

What do you do? Decline the medication for end-of-life patients for small loses? It falls outside human dignity and our moral and professional responsibility!
Currently Trimethoprim tablets 200mg is over the Drug Tariff. Is it fair to not supply and let patients suffer?
My business income has dropped £100,000 a year since the beginning of 2025 and costs have increased by five to 10 per cent.

Jalal Soufizadeh, Adelaide Pharmacy, Southampton.

This was first time in 14 years we couldn’t give our staff a salary rise
We had a meeting with our accountant recently. In the past years, meetings would end with the boss writing a nice cheque for me as a bonus. This year, he asked me as usual how much I thought I deserved.

Looking at the figures, I couldn't even open my mouth. I was embarrassed to ask for something, not because I didn't do my job, but because he would have had to borrow money for my bonus.

Every month, the boss, director and myself put our personal money into the business to keep it afloat. This year was the first time in 14 years we were not able to give our staff a salary rise – we don't have anybody on minimum salary.

The only profit we made last year came from a few services thrown to us to shut our mouth by the NHS. We have also done some private services.

I have never been put in so many awkward and embarrassing situations than last year due to medicines shortages and 'over-the-drug-tariff' prices.

The wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers are making the rules for everybody in this sector – rules that are directing all the money strictly to them.

How can the NHS accept so many ridiculous price increases from their side but when it’s time to revise the drug tariff, they don't do anything at all?

GPhC inspectors are keen on standards but how can we keep the standards if we are not able to pay our staff, suppliers and all other expenses?

And there will always be a hungry and greedy pharmacist around to take advantage of these situations. When we started to charge for deliveries, the pharmacy near us spread leaflets about their ‘free delivery'.

We have started to charge for dosette boxes but the pharmacy nearby calls our patients to advertise their free dosette boxes.

We decided to close on Saturdays and will change the opening time from 8.30am to 9am on other days. This decision is affecting everybody, from our patients to our staff who will earn less.

You can imagine how frustrating it is when, after so many years of hard work, you see your pockets are almost empty.

Mihai Tudor Ionescu, Avonmouth Pharmacy, Bristol.

Pharmacy First is a brilliant idea but impossible to do!

It's a massive help to people in the community, absolutely massive. But to get the funding and the numbers we are required to hit now, even increasing to 20 is just impossible. 

Lisa Gallagher, Stephen's Pharmacy, Liverpool.

Want to get something off your chest? Get in touch by emailing neil.trainis@1530.com