The UK Government has announced a significant investment in community pharmacies, marking the first step to rebuild and enhance pharmacy services across the nation.
The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed an extra £617m ($797.16m) investment agreement with Community Pharmacy England over the next two years, coupled with a £193m debt write-off for pharmacy owners.
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This investment, part of the government’s Plan for Change, is aimed at shifting the focus of care from hospitals to community settings.
The initiative is designed to improve patient access to services on high streets, alleviate general practitioner (GP) workloads, and reduce waiting lists.
For the first time, the ‘morning-after pill’ will be available free of charge on the NHS at pharmacies, addressing the uneven access women have faced in obtaining the medication.
The reforms will also offer support for patients with depression at pharmacies and reduce bureaucracy to facilitate easier access to consultations.
Pharmacists will also receive financial incentives to identify patients with undiagnosed high blood pressure.
The funding boost includes measures to ensure better access to prescribed medicines and to write off debts incurred during the pandemic.
England chief pharmaceutical officer David Webb said: “This positive investment underscores the importance of community pharmacy as an integral part of the NHS team, providing clinical care, optimising the use of medicines and supporting people in their neighbourhoods to prevent ill health.”
The funding agreement with Community Pharmacy England is the first full-year settlement since 2023 and includes a £106m increase for the year 2024 to 2025, with an additional £375m for 2025 to 2026.
For the coming year, the total funding will reach £3.07bn, with an extra £30m allocated for blood pressure and contraception services.
The 2025 to 2026 increase represents a 15% rise in government spending on community pharmacies, surpassing the 5.8% growth in the total NHS budget.
These investments align with the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, which promises to deliver significant shifts in healthcare.
In February 2025, the UK Government unveiled an investment to improve hospice services in England.
