Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his department is taking to ensure community pharmacies are involved in formal policy discussions affecting the pharmacy sector.

The Government recognises that pharmacies are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.

Following consultation with Community Pharmacy England, as the representative of the community pharmacy sector, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework in 2025/26 was increased to £3.1 billion.  This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the NHS at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.

The Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed changes to reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors for 2026/27 shortly.