Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health, in light of funding difficulties facing community pharmacy owners, whether he will confirm whether the emergency measures provided in November and December will be extended from now and into 2024/25.
Minister of Health: I very much appreciate the extremely important work that community pharmacies deliver for our population.
I have received representation from pharmacy contractors and from their representative body, Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI). An urgent meeting was held recently with representatives of the community pharmacy sector, CPNI to consider these matters further. I have asked my Department to address some of the pressures that pharmacies are facing within what is available and affordable. I encouraged CPNI to continue to work with Department officials to seek ways to ensure the pharmacy service can develop in line with our shared strategic objectives.
ENDS
Your MLA 