NI Pharmacies struggle with financial strain amid prescription reimbursement crisis

Rising operational costs, including utility bills and staff wages, have compounded the financial strain on pharmacies around Northern Ireland 

Pharmacies across Northern Ireland are in financial turmoil, reporting that they are dispensing prescription medicines at a loss due to inadequate reimbursement from the Department of Health (DoH).

This crisis has led to the closure of almost a dozen pharmacies over the past 18 months, with many others struggling to stay open.

Siobhan McNulty, who runs Melvin Pharmacy in Garrison, County Fermanagh, described the dire situation. “We’re dispensing medicines at a loss,” she said.

“The reimbursement rates don’t match the cost of the drugs, and we’re left to cover the gap.”

McNulty relies on sales of non-pharmaceutical products to keep her business running.

“I spend my evenings researching beauty products and creating social media content just to subsidise the cost of dispensing prescriptions,” she explained to BBC News NI.

McNulty highlighted the impact of fluctuating drug prices, citing a significant increase in the cost of a cholesterol medication from £2 to £17 per box.

“The department usually catches up with the price increase, but it takes time. By then, we’ve already dispensed hundreds of boxes at a loss,” she noted.

This has forced her to ration supplies, giving patients smaller quantities and asking them to return in hopes that prices stabilize.

Joe McAleer, who operates pharmacies in Belcoo and Enniskillen, shared similar challenges. “We can’t afford to stock the volume of medicines we used to.

We’re forced to order drugs only as prescriptions come in, which means patients often have to make multiple trips to collect their medications,” he said.

Rising operational costs, including utility bills and staff wages, have compounded the financial strain, leading McAleer to cut back on staff hours and increase his business overdraft.

Gerard Greene, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, underscored the critical role of pharmacies in the healthcare system and called for immediate investment.

“Pharmacies are the open door of the health service,” he said on BBC Radio Ulster.

“We need sustained investment to ensure they can continue to provide essential services.”

In response, the DoH acknowledged the financial pressures but maintained that funding for Northern Ireland’s community pharmacies is favorable compared to other parts of the UK.

A DoH spokesperson stated, “The Community Pharmacy Strategic Plan 2030 includes increased core funding, but full implementation will require phased additional funding due to current financial constraints.”

As pharmacies in towns like Ballymena, Belfast, and Newry close, local residents, especially the elderly and those without transport, are deeply concerned.

Colin Gilliland from Ballyclare expressed the community’s fears: “If they keep closing them, then what are we going to do? Especially for the older people who really depend on these services.”

Pharmacists across Northern Ireland are urging the government to act quickly and provide the necessary investment to prevent further closures and ensure they can continue to serve their communities effectively.