Financial pressures facing local pharmacists in Northern Ireland at critical level survey says

By Hannah Spratt

The financial pressures facing local pharmacists in Northern Ireland has hit a critical level.

A new report shows over 80 percent of pharmacists here say the lack of cash is having a detrimental impact on their health.

Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI is Gerard Greene.

He's been speaking to Q Radio News:

The Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene says:

 The staggering findings were uncovered after a recent survey of 75 contractors representing 200 community pharmacies in Northern Ireland.

Community pharmacies have a vital role in delivering community-based healthcare services and the promotion of well-being, with around 123,000 people visiting a community pharmacy every day.

It is often the first point of contact for people to the health service and it is also the last point of contact for those receiving prescribed medication.

Prior to the collapse of the NI Assembly, the last Health Minister, Michelle O’Neill, outlined a commitment to continue to develop and resource community pharmacy-based initiatives over the next 10 years.

However, this is now in jeopardy due to the fact that the Department of Health is under funding the cost of providing community pharmacy services by at least £20m.

This funding shortfall has been compounded in recent months by unprecedented generic medicines shortages leaving community pharmacists and their staff with a daily struggle to find many of the medicines needed by their patients.

When they do source the items required, they can find themselves paying more than ten times the usual price, all without knowing if they will be fully reimbursed. Community pharmacies in Northern Ireland are currently under sustained attack due to: Prolonged Government underfunding; Additional funding cuts made in 2017/18; Funding model which sees many medicines dispensed at a loss;

Medicine shortages; Rising demand; Workforce crisis; Rising incidence of violent crime. Gerard Greene, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI commented:

“Community pharmacists are at breaking point as the realities of managing their businesses on a day to day basis, whilst serving patients and customers, is causing severe strain.”

“The cost of providing the community pharmacy service is hugely underfunded due to a shortfall in what the Department of Health is willing to allocate, and the cost of keeping community pharmacies open.

“The real impact is that eight in ten of the business owning community pharmacists have told us that the funding situation is having an impact on their own health and wellbeing. Some contractors have told us that they are reaching breaking point.

This is unacceptable and must be urgently addressed.”

Picture: Gerard Greene