The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will increase medicine reimbursement prices by £15 million in June in an attempt to minimise the ‘significant cash flow problems’ facing the sector, PSNC have announced.

This change comes amid growing pressure from the sector who have called on the government for more financial support for community pharmacy to help with economic issues brought about by Covid-19. 

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According to PSNC, the decision for the increase in category M reimbursement prices was made based on medicine margin data from last year as well as predictions for prices in 2020/21.

However, according to PSNC Chief Executive Simon Dukes, this financial aid is ‘not enough.’ 

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‘All pharmacies are facing significant and wide-ranging financial issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are continuing to press for urgent additional investment in the sector. 

‘The Committee of PSNC will meet later this week to review how we can continue to make the strongest case for the sector and also to consider what the ongoing challenges for pharmacies will be as we move out of full lockdown and into a new recovery phase of health service delivery.’

PSNC and DHSC will continue to look at the medicine margin data to identify when a further increase in funding is necessary.

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