The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPHC), Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), Company Chemists Association (CCA), Association of Pharmacy
Technicians UK (APTUK), National Pharmacy Association (NPA), Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA), and Independent
Pharmacies Association (IPA) have released a joint statement in response to the far-right riots across the UK.
They emphasised their united stance, declaring zero tolerance for racism towards colleagues or the public in any form.
The joint statement reads: "We are shocked and saddened by the violent public disorder events in recent days.
"We acknowledge how all sectors of the pharmacy profession may be impacted and recognise the challenges that this level of overt aggression can have on
people's ability or willingness to live their daily lives.
"The pharmacy workforce deserves peace and safety, not fear and harm. We stand united in having a zero tolerance of racism towards our colleagues or the
public in whatever form it takes."
Meanwhile, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has expressed concerns that protests and violent disorder in various towns and cities across England may impact
the ability of community pharmacies to operate.
In a significant event organised by Eastern Eye (EE), a sister publication of Pharmacy Business, political leaders gathered on July 1st to address pressing
issues affecting the Asian community
The EE election debate aimed to amplify their political voice and encourage participation in the political process.
The debate, moderated by Barnie Choudhury, Editor of Eastern Eye, saw prominent figures including Andrew Boff AM of the Conservative Party, Anneliese Dodds
represented Labour as Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, and Lord Richard Newby from the Liberal Democrats engaged in a robust discussion.
They fielded questions on various issues affecting the UK, including economic and social inequality, immigration, health inequalities, and funding cuts to
community pharmacies.
Amid an audience that included stakeholders from the pharmacy sector, a notable query focused on each party's stance on the role of community pharmacies and
their commitment to funding these vital services.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will introduce new arrangements for the setting of Drug Tariff Category A reimbursement prices from April 2024.
Driven by ministers, DHSC's decision aims to equalise access to margin on Category A medicines and it's part of a series of drug reimbursement reforms proposed by
the department following a public consultation in 2019.
Currently, prices of medicines in Category A are subject to monthly adjustment. From 1 April 2024, these will be updated quarterly based on sales and volume data
obtained by DHSC under the Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018. The transition will conclude in July 2025 when the reimbursement prices will be exclusively determined by the new method.
Advance notice for contractors regarding the 'new arrangements' has been outlined on the NHSBSA website.
However, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) did not support the introduction of the changes at this time as pharmacies are currently grappling with "wider challenges"
and there is uncertainty about the potential impact of these changes on the already "turbulent" medicines supply chain