Independent businesses have been left on the precipice by Covid due to the collapse in High Street footfall. Last year EY found that a third of family-owned pharmacies were loss-making.
A GROUP of prominent politicians, including MPs and peers, have renewed their call for a fairer funding for community pharmacies in England at a virtual meeting organised by the All-Party Pharmacy Group on Wednesday (April 28) reports Pharmacybiz
Chair of the group Jackie Doyle-Price MP was joined by parliamentarians from across the political divide to hear from frontline pharmacists about how they have been supporting patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Contractors showcased how their teams have played a key role as part of the NHS family during the pandemic, including maintaining access to essential medicines, offering mental health support, providing face-to-face advice, and delivering flu jabs and Covid-19 vaccinations.
High street chemists feel under-valued and unloved by parts of the NHS and fear for their survival – despite being a lifeline to millions during the pandemic, a leading pharmacist says.
They are not being used enough in the Covid vaccination campaign and are generally held in lower regard than other parts of the healthcare world, said Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMP).
Many pharmacists are worried moves to have medicines delivered directly to patients homes will put them out of business, as it will eliminate the fee chemists are paid to check and prepare the drugs.
Community pharmacies able to administer up to 400 COVID-19 vaccines per week can now apply to become designated vaccination sites, NHS England has said.