Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health what additional financial support he will provide to community pharmacies to implement the Community Pharmacy Strategic Plan 2030.
Minister of Health: The Strategic Plan for Community Pharmacy was published on 07 May 2024. It aims to fully realise the potential of community pharmacy services to support better health outcomes from medicines and prevent illness.
This important piece of work was developed collaboratively by the Department of Health and Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI), the representative body for community pharmacy owners, and describes the vision and strategic priorities for community pharmacy up to 2030.
Against the backdrop of the current severe budgetary pressures and the multiple demands for additional funding across all parts of health and social care, additional investment continues to be provided to the community pharmacy sector. Funding for community pharmacies in NI has increased in recent years. The year-start investment total for community pharmacy services was £104m in 2018/19. By 2023/24 it was £128m and in April of this year it stood at £147m. There has therefore been a £43m (41%) increase in six years.
The level of government funding for community pharmacies in NI compares favourably to other parts of the UK. However, more will be required to fully deliver this Strategic Plan up to 2030. I am very conscious that the Community Pharmacy sector – like all sectors across health and social care – is keen to see further investment.
The Strategic Plan for Community Pharmacy is available on the Department of Health website: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/community-pharmacy-strategic-plan-2030
Full delivery of the vision outlined in the plan will be subject to funding. The Department will continue to work with Community Pharmacy NI and the pharmacy profession to progress a phased approach to implementation over the coming years.
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