Daily Express
There have been media reports today in the Daily Express highlighting growing pharmacy pressures and closures across England and Wales. Figures from the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) indicate hundreds of pharmacies have closed, with warnings that recent tax and cost pressures are forcing many out of business.
Rachel Reeves accused of pushing pharmacies out of business | Express
Community Pharmacy England Chief Executive, Janet Morrison, wrote a related guest column that was also published by the Express, outlining that the challenges are causing many to struggle.
Our CEO Janet Morrison said:
“In the past week we’ve been listening to the hospitality sector talking about the rise in costs including NI and the minimum wage and we’re in exactly the same position. Except we can’t simply raise our prices. For most pharmacies, about 90% of their business is NHS-related. That means fixed charges for prescriptions and drugs.
We can’t just charge more because our costs have gone up, apart from for things like toothbrushes and toothpaste but they form a very small part of most businesses. Some pharmacies offer private services, like weight loss jabs or ear wax removal, but these are then subsidising their NHS work which simply doesn’t pay enough.
So there have been more closures and the biggest companies have been consolidating. The biggest provider, Boots, closed more than 300 pharmacies over the last few years. The second biggest, Lloyds, sold up and moved out of the business entirely. Sainsbury’s closed pharmacies because it makes more profit from the floorspace selling cans of beans. It might be a good community offer but it’s just not economic.”
Read Janet’s full article: Pharmacies are a vital community asset but many are running on empty | Express
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