The Northern Ireland government has withdrawn its appeal against the high court ruling that its pharmacy funding cuts were illegal, C+D has learned.

The government will no longer contest last year's decision that it illegally implemented cuts to pharmacy funding, which representatives said had left some contractors "on their knees". The health department cancelled its appeal hearing, which was due to take place this week on December 10 and 11.

Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI), which initiated the legal action against the cuts, said the withdrawal from the court battle was a positive development that would enable a more collaborative approach between pharmacy and the government.

The Northern Ireland government will no longer contest last year's high court ruling that it illegally implemented cuts to pharmacy funding	More on Northern Ireland NI expands services despite funding deadlock Terry Maguire: Let's not not take the PIS Northern Ireland at breaking point
	CPNI did not cite any possible reasons behind the government's climb down, but said it would issue further details after its board meeting tomorrow (December 13). The Northern Ireland government was unavailable for comment at the time of publication. Numark welcomed the development and called for a line to be drawn under the events – urging the government to take pharmacy seriously.

"Pharmacists in Northern Ireland have the ability and willingness to provide the best possible care to every patient in the community setting, so start using them rather than excluding them," said Numark director of professional services Mimi Lau.

News of the climbdown came after contractors last month called for an overhaul of pharmacy funding, warning that the legal battle had caused a lot of damage to community pharmacy's relationship with health officials.