A Westminster Hall debate, initiated by APPG Chair Jackie Doyle-Price, has shone a light on the pharmacy sector’s heroic contribution to healthcare during the COVID pandemic, and beyond, and highlighted the need to review and reform the sector’s funding framework to ensure pharmacies are properly remunerated for their services.
The “Pharmacy and the impact of Covid-19” debate, which took place on Thursday 11th March, was well attended by MPs from across the House, including a number of members of the All-Party Pharmacy Group, who showed their support and appreciation for what pharmacies are doing in their constituencies across the country. The Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care Jo Churchill MP was also at the debate as was Alex Norris MP the Shadow Minister for Public Health and Patient Safety, Martyn Day the Shadow SNP Spokesperson for Public Health and Primary Care, and Jim Shannon MP the Shadow DUP Spokesperson for Health.
The debate centred around the role of community pharmacies during the COVID pandemic, particularly the ways in which they had stepped up to meet the growing demands and changing needs of patients, but also the impact the pandemic has had on pharmacies. Top of the agenda was the financial pressures many pharmacies are now facing and the need for the Government to look again at the funding framework to ensure it is sustainable for the future.
Speaking at the debate, APPG Chair Jackie-Doyle Price MP said “This debate is a chance for me to make a plea that the Government and the NHS fully appreciate the contribution made by our community pharmacists and ensure that they are recompensed adequately for it. Pharmacists can play a much fuller contribution to primary care, as they have shown over the past year, and they should be supported to do so.”
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