Politicians

The four pharmacy bodies have together urged the government to “shield community pharmacies from…increased costs and measures” introduced in the October budget.

The previous health secretary revealed NHSE’s “lack of enthusiasm” in supporting community pharmacy is “inbuilt” and it is “by tradition, really very tight on pharmacists” during his evidence at the latest Covid-19 Inquiry hearing.

The UK chief pharmaceutical officers (CPhOs) have set boundaries around pharmacist involvement in the assisted dying debate, amid calls for a “clear” role for pharmacists in the Scottish assisted dying bill.

The government has introduced draft legislation to “permanently cut business rates” for pharmacies and other high-street retailers from 2026 as it continues to come under fire over its recent budget tax hikes, it has revealed.

A US community pharmacy body has welcomed the nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as health secretary under Donald Trump’s new administration, despite his controversial comments about vaccines.

Community pharmacists are set to meet with a Northern Ireland Office (NIO) minister to discuss the sector’s funding crisis after the National Pharmacy Association’s (NPA) ballot received near unanimous support in favour of collective action.

MPs have urged the government to “go back to the drawing board” and “invest” in community pharmacies as concerns grow about the upcoming hike in employer National Insurance Contributions.

Labour MP Sadik Al-Hassan has voiced concerns about the “decline of community pharmacies” in his first parliamentary speech.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has stressed that the budget will have a “devastating impact” on the health sector, “but none more so than NHS GP services”.

The national living wage will increase by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour from April next year, the Chancellor has confirmed in her first budget.