Funding boost in Scotland “needs to work for not just pharmacy owners but pharmacists too”, says PDA

An increase in funding for community pharmacies in Scotland needs to lead to a greater focus on supporting pharmacists rather than “simply sustain business models”, according to the Pharmacy Defence Association (PDA).

Earlier this week, Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) accepted the Scottish government’s initial financial offer for the 2025/26 fiscal year, securing a guaranteed minimum reimbursement of £120 million for community pharmacies — up from £110 million from 2024/25.

The PDA insisted the additional investment needs to be used to support the “wellbeing, professional development, and fair treatment of employed and locum pharmacists working on the front line”.

“Any new deal needs to work for the whole community pharmacy sector, not just pharmacy owners but pharmacists too. We need investment that reaches those of us who deliver services to patients every day, so pharmacists and their teams can do their jobs safely, confidently, and with proper support,” said Maurice Hickey, head of Policy for PDA-Scotland.

The agreement marks the first phase of ongoing negotiations surrounding community pharmacy funding for the upcoming financial year.

CPS and the Scottish government agreed to begin negotiations with the initial focus on reimbursement arrangements to prevent a delay on this part of the deal, whilst discussions on the Global Sum element of remuneration continue.

The guaranteed reimbursement figure has seen steady increases in recent years, previously rising from £100 million in 2023/24 to £110 million in 2024/25.

In addition, the value mapped from the Scottish Drug Tariff has been increased by £20 million, from £80 million to £100 million, which CPS confirmed will be delivered as “guaranteed service income.”

“Scotland’s pharmacists continue to deliver essential community care under increasing pressure. Funding announcements must be measured not only by the figures involved but by their real-world impact on those providing patient-facing services,” the PDA said in a statement.

“Frontline pharmacists must feel the benefit of increased funding through improved working conditions, adequate staffing levels, protected time for clinical development, access for all pharmacists to independent prescriber training and recognition of their professional contribution.”