Key Summary
- The manifesto points out that 4 percent of Welsh pharmacies have closed in 2023-2024.
- The government should accelerate digital transformation so that pharmacies have interoperable systems and access to a single national clinical data resource.
- It should provide adequate funding to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.
The Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) has urged the political parties in Wales to ensure that the investments in the sector keep pace with rising costs and workload demand.
While releasing a manifesto for Wales ahead of the Senedd elections (7th May), CCA pointed out that 4 percent of Welsh pharmacies have closed in 2023-2024.
The CCA urges the next government in Wales to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector through adequate funding and ensure that the capacity keeps pace with patient needs.
It has called for investment in the workforce to support frontline teams and grow the number of independent prescribers.
The government should accelerate digital transformation so that pharmacies have interoperable systems and access to a single national clinical data resource.
CCA chief executive Malcolm Harrison said, “Pharmacies across Wales are stepping up and providing even more for patients. The potential of community pharmacy is huge, and if the next Welsh Government wants to harness this opportunity, protect patient access and free up NHS capacity, investment in the sector is non-negotiable.”
The manifesto also highlighted some of the services rendered by the community pharmacies for the local communities.
A network of under 700 community pharmacies dispenses 86 million prescriptions each year, 6 million every week, including in some of the most rural demographics.
The Common Ailments Service registered a surge of 44 percent in 2024, clearly showing the trust enjoyed by pharmacy-led care.
Nearly a third of pharmacies now offer an independent prescribing service, unlocking the full clinical potential of pharmacists.
With every pharmacy expected to have an independent prescriber by 2030, Wales is leading one of the most ambitious transformations of healthcare in the UK.
The manifesto makes clear that with the right investment, community pharmacy can deliver even more services and ease pressures across the NHS.
It claimed that the community pharmacy is well-placed to play a larger role in urgent care, a greater role in managing chronic conditions, and increasing its vital preventative services such as vaccinations, smoking cessation, and weight management services.
