Today's Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework funding announcement is welcomed

“Today’s Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework funding announcement for 2024/25 and 2025/26 is welcomed."

"It has secured a funding uplift for community pharmacy and is the first step towards stabilising the sector and securing its future. As I predicted in an earlier statement, the increase does not deliver the output of the economic review. What it has done, is begin the transition to delivering that figure over a short number of years and I commend the Government and CPE’s commitment to do so. Looking at the final settlement and based on my experience in this field, I believe CPE has at a time of exceptional public fiscal constraint, achieved the best it could.

This investment is a much-needed boost and increases our annual baseline CPCF funding to £3.073 billion in 2025/26. The £215 million to continue Pharmacy First is strategically important and the write-off of £193 million in historic margin overspend is also very welcome news.

What is also apparent in this settlement is the further shift towards a service-based model of practice and Numark’s 12 principles for such development aligns with this strategic direction.

This is the first significant investment in community pharmacy’s core funding in over a decade. It is a positive step forward and cannot be the last. I remain committed to ensuring that community pharmacy continues to receive the recognition and support it deserves so that we can keep delivering for patients, communities, the NHS and pharmacy owners.”

Prof. Harry McQuillan
Chairman 
Numark UK