Published: 23rd September, 2025 in: News
Insight from inside Community Pharmacy
Pharmacies provided financial data to inform a report commissioned by NHS England and conducted by IQVIA and Frontier Economics. You can read the full report here: Economic Analysis of the Pharmacy Sector .
The report found that the UK Government is underfunding community pharmacies by over £3 billion. This underfunding has been acknowledged by the government as a significant economic pressure on the sector, leading to outcomes such as:
Pharmacy operators say remaining pharmacies are under increased pressure to serve more patients without having the funding to increase and train staff.
Fewer local pharmacies mean longer travel times or more difficulty in reaching a pharmacy, especially for elderly, disabled or rural patients. Reduced opening hours also limit when people can collect prescriptions or seek urgent over-the-counter advice.
With more patients using fewer pharmacies, queues and waiting times increase. Delays in getting medications can worsen health conditions or delay recovery.
Pharmacies often handle minor ailments. If they close, more patients will visit GPs or emergency departments, increasing NHS workload and waiting times.
Closures often affect deprived areas most. People in these communities may have less ability to travel, leading to poorer health outcomes and widening health inequalities.
Patients who rely on trusted local pharmacists for medication reviews, chronic disease support or lifestyle advice may lose continuity in their care.
Government funding policies directly affect the availability, accessibility and quality of community pharmacy services. Underfunding leads to closures, which create barriers for patients, increase pressure on other parts of the healthcare system and contribute to poorer health outcomes.