The £15m per month increase is “based on margin data from 2019/20”, as well as “predictions for delivery in 2020/21”, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) said today (May 19).

This will continue to be monitored by the PSNC and the DH “in order to identify if, and when, further increases are required", the negotiator said.

C+D has asked PSNC to clarify how long the increased reimbursement prices will last until.

Category M prices for June 2020 can be found on the NHS Business Services Authority website (NHS BSA).

“Not enough”

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the PSNC said it has “repeatedly highlighted the significant cash flow problems” facing contractors to the DH.

It has also made representations to NHS England & NHS Improvement, as well as the government, about the “urgent need for more investment in community pharmacies”.

A funding bid, which is “separate to discussions on margin”, is still being considered by the Treasury, the PSNC said.

PSNC chief executive Simon Dukes said that while the reimbursement prices “should help to ease some of the procurement challenges being faced by contractors”, the extra money “is not enough”.

“All pharmacies are facing significant and wide-ranging financial issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are continuing to press for urgent additional investment in the sector,” he added.