Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) has accepted a £120m minimum reimbursement offer in the 'first part' of a financial deal with the Scottish Government.

This is a £10m uplift on the £110m guaranteed minimum reimbursement outlined in last year's contract.

The new deal will see the sector receive at least £120m in medicines reimbursement, as well as £100m in guaranteed service income.

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The £100m is a £20m increase from last year in the value mapped from the Scottish Drug Tariff.

But the negotiator said this was in effect 'the first part' of the 2025/26 deal, and it would be continuing to negotiate with the aim of increasing the global sum.

And it said further details would follow in due course.

CPS chief executive Matt Barclay said in a statement today: 'We agreed with Scottish Government to work on what we could with the financial package when we could.

'This is effectively the first part of the deal, supporting network cashflow in the event of a medicines market downturn linked to the Drug Tariff through the Guaranteed Minimum and crucially mapping further guaranteed money to support strategic service lines for patients.

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'We are continuing to work hard to get more resource into the contract in line with the CPS Board objectives for 25/26.'

C0mmenting on the deal, Scottish Government Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: 'The vital work carried out by community pharmacy teams is key in ensuring people continue to get the necessary medicines and advice they need to stay healthy. The services they provide, such as NHS Pharmacy First, helps people to access the right care in the right place, as well as managing demand across the NHS.

'The increases made to the guaranteed minimum income and the value of the money mapped from the Scottish Drug Tariff ensures the community pharmacy remains the first point of contact for communities as we look to add to conditions which can be treated under NHS Pharmacy First.

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'Details on remuneration arrangements will be published when concluded.'

At the end of March, the negotiator in England agreed a £3.073bn Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework, in a new deal for the sector for 2025/26.