A petition to help save community pharmacies from closure has garnered almost 100,000 signatures so far but the trade union which represents pharmacists is hoping for more to make an impact on politicians and the public.
The petition, created by the National Pharmacy Association, calls on the government to recompense pharmacies for the extra costs they have incurred by staying open during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has extended its support to NPA's campaign by inviting all its members, supporters and those who care about pharmacy provision in their local community to sign and share the 38 Degrees petition.
“The future of tens of thousands of pharmacists is inextricably linked to the long-term viability of the community pharmacy sector and that is why the PDA, which is the largest pharmacist membership organisation and the only independent trade union exclusively for pharmacists in the UK, is giving support to the campaign,” the PDA said.
Many independent pharmacies in particular are now in deficit and risk closure. The loss of pharmacists providing NHS services in the heart of England’s communities would be a double blow to the health system and to the local high street, it said.
Community pharmacy is key to a primary care of the future that focuses on prevention
Santosh Sahu
