Money

The government has introduced draft legislation to “permanently cut business rates” for pharmacies and other high-street retailers from 2026 as it continues to come under fire over its recent budget tax hikes, it has revealed.

The PDA has taken the next step in securing union recognition at Superdrug after the company agreed to its proposed bargaining unit, despite previous reservations.

Community pharmacists are set to meet with a Northern Ireland Office (NIO) minister to discuss the sector’s funding crisis after the National Pharmacy Association’s (NPA) ballot received near unanimous support in favour of collective action.

The pharmacy negotiator has called for promised financial rewards for “high-performing” health providers announced as part of a package of NHS reforms to “apply to community pharmacy too”.

Facing almost £50,000 in wholesaler fees and NHS clawbacks, one Plymouth pharmacy owner has told C+D that she is still paying back a personal loan used to pay for NHS medicine.

The National Pharmacy Association’s (NPA) ballot has received near unanimous support in favour of collective action, but it will now wait for the government to respond before advising members to act.

Pharmacy workers across the Netherlands are taking part in a national strike calling for “higher wages” and a “reduction in work pressure”.

The Northern Irish pharmacy regulator has revealed proposals for a fee rise, having made a pre-tax loss of almost £200,000.

MPs have urged the government to “go back to the drawing board” and “invest” in community pharmacies as concerns grow about the upcoming hike in employer National Insurance Contributions.

Pharmacies and GPs will not receive additional funding to help with the burden of increased employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), which was announced last week (October 30) in the chancellor’s first Budget, C+D understands.