The Welsh government today (November 20) announced a “4% increase to the total funding payable” to the community pharmacy sector for 2025/26.
Welsh health secretary Jeremy Miles said that the increase “equates to an additional £7 million this year” and will see the “value of community pharmacy contractual framework (CPCF) fees and allowances rise to £182m”.
Read more: CPW welcomes 6% funding increase for Welsh community pharmacies
He added that this “record level of investment” recognises the role of community pharmacy and “rewards” the sector’s “effort and dedication”.
The government said that it had “reached an agreement” with the NHS and Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW) on the 2025/26 contract, which is due to be replaced by a new contract for 2026/27 in April.
“Fair and proportionate”
The health secretary said that the deal reflects a previous commitment to a “fair and proportionate uplift across primary care” including community pharmacies “in recognition of the vital role they play in delivering essential services to people throughout Wales”.
He said that the funding uplift has contributed to a cash “increase of nearly 30% since 2016/17” in the community pharmacy contract.
Read more: CPW demands ‘equal’ pay for community and GP pharmacists
Miles added that the investment will help to “address the immediate challenges facing community pharmacies” and support progress towards the government’s “longer-term ambitions for reform”.
“The measures agreed as part of this funding package will help ensure the NHS maximises the use of the skills and expertise of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and the wider pharmacy team in every community in Wales”, he said.
Read more: Wales sore throat and UTI service expansion backed by £6m funding
It comes after a 6% funding increase was announced for Welsh community pharmacies in September last year.
And in May, the Welsh government announced it was investing “an extra £6m in community pharmacies” to make sore throat test and treat (STTT) and urinary tract infection (UTI) services available “in 99% of pharmacies ahead of the winter”.
Meanwhile, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) announced the launch of new goals to “transform pharmacy services” in Wales over the next three years in September.
