Published: 01/05/25
The Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) Board has accepted the Scottish Government’s financial offer detailing the initial focus on the reimbursement arrangements within the community pharmacy funding envelope for the financial year 2025/26.
CPS and the Scottish Government made the joint decision to begin negotiations with the initial focus on reimbursement arrangements. This was to prevent a delay on this part of the deal whilst further discussions continue.
The accepted offer provides a guaranteed minimum for reimbursement set to £120 million, up from £110 million from 2024/25. In addition to this there is an increase in the value mapped from the Scottish Drug Tariff by £20 million resulting in the current £80 million increasing to £100 million. This £100 million will be delivered as guaranteed service income.
In the recently published First Minister’s NHS Operational Improvement Plan the value of community pharmacy network in delivering NHS Pharmacy First Scotland is recognised. CPS are delighted to see that the network's huge contribution to patient care is being noticed by government and expansion sought to deliver even more care through our reliable network. The CPS Team will work to meet the commitment made in the plan and improve access to care through the pharmacy network.
CPS’ Chief Executive Matt Barclay said:
"We agreed with Scottish Government to work on what we could with the financial package when we could. This is effectively the first part of the deal, supporting network cashflow in the event of a medicines market downturn linked to the Drug Tariff through the Guaranteed Minimum and crucially mapping further guaranteed money to support strategic service lines for patients. We are continuing to work hard to get more resource into the contract in line with the CPS Board objectives for 25/26”.
Negotiations continue with a focus on the Global Sum element of remuneration as part of the financial envelope. The CPS Board is committed to working collaboratively with the Scottish Government in progressing this next stage.
Further details will follow on this year's financial settlement in due course.
If you would like to speak to us on this issue, please contact us at enquiries@cps.scot
We would like to signpost everyone to this part of the Scottish Drug Tariff.