Pharmacy owners representing one third of the network in England have called for the economic review of the sector to be published immediately.

Contractors responsible for a combined total of 3,034 pharmacies signed an open letter to NHS England, organised by the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) and National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

Publishing economic review of pharmacy 'in the public interest'

The letter suggests that the economic analysis of the community pharmacy sector in England 'will contain vitally important information about the short-term stability of the pharmacy network', which is in the public interest to reveal.

'We believe publishing this analysis now will help ministers, the NHS and pharmacies chart a way to securing the stable and sustainable pharmacy network that our patients so desperately need,' the letter added. 

It follows calls from both the IPA and NPA for the economic review of community pharmacy to be published while negotiations are ongoing, so that the sector could understand how funding decisions were arrived at.

'We believe economic review shows full extent of funding shortfall'

NPA chair Nick Kaye said the association believed that the economic analysis of community pharmacy 'uncovers the true and devastating extent to which funding for community pharmacy falls short'.

He added: 'The hundreds of pharmacy owners signing the open letter agree with us that pharmacies, patients and the public’s representatives in parliament should be allowed to see this vital information without further delay.

'There is no justification for the public to be kept in the dark on an issue of such national significance. Millions of people rely on a sustainable pharmacy network for life saving medication and convenient clinical care – they should not be denied the full facts of this dire situation.

'Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that pharmacies are protected in the interests of patients, and that we move forward with Wes Streeting’s vision of a health system with care focused in the community.

'To do that everyone needs to be honest about the scale of the problem we face so we can solve it together.'

'We are asking NHSE to be transparent'

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, IPA chief executive, stressed the economic review was commissioned 'to show the true financial state of community pharmacy in England'.

'The government officials now know the full picture of debt and suffering that years of underfunding and poor policies have imposed on these caring professionals. A sector now facing collapse and ruin as that debt is predicted to escalate,' she said.

'We are asking NHS England to be transparent and reveal the truth now by publishing the outcome of the review and stay true to government’s promises to stop this culling for pharmacy and patients alike.'

NHS England has previously said that it would not share further details of their review while contract negotiations were ongoing.

NHS England has been contacted for comment