Key Summary
- Higher bills could push pharmacies to shut.
- Patients may lose easy access to care.
- Pharmacists are already struggling to survive.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned that the government’s move to increase the business rates in April could lead to the closure of many pharmacies.
In a letter to the chancellor Rachel Reeves, the NPA pointed out that a lot of pharmacies have closed due to underfunding over the last decade.
“Around two pharmacies shut permanently a week in England last year despite a recent funding uplift,” it added.
The NPA, which represents over 6,000 pharmacies, stated that ‘many pharmacy businesses will be unable to survive’ without government support.
The letter said the closures would significantly limit access to health services, put more pressure on other public services, and put many jobs at risk.
The NPA urged the government to extend any support being offered to pubs to community pharmacies.
NPA chief executive Henry Gregg said, “Pubs may well deserve support but pharmacies offer more than just beer.
“It would be indefensible if support was provided to pubs but not to pharmacies, who are fundamental to everyone’s health and deserve fair treatment.”
Unlike pubs or other high street businesses, pharmacies receive around 90 per cent of their income from the NHS to cover the cost of dispensing vital medication to patients as well as delivering vaccination campaigns.
They are therefore unable to increase prices to absorb soaring business rates or rises in National Insurance contributions, the letter stated.
The NPA has urged the government to fully reimburse pharmacies for the cost of business rates, in the same way it is done for GPs and NHS dentists.
The letter pointed out that over 1400 pharmacies have shut since 2017.
Those that have stayed open going to extraordinary lengths to do so.
A survey by the NPA found that 72 per cent of pharmacy owners had remortgaged their homes or raided personal savings to keep their pharmacies afloat last year, the letter said.
