(DDM) – Thousands of pharmacies across England are warning that two-thirds of outlets face “imminent closure” unless urgent government intervention comes swiftly.
Independent pharmacy owners say they are being forced to “remortgage homes or raid pension pots” to keep their doors open amid rising costs, including higher business rates and the minimum wage increase set for April.
A joint letter from 3,200 independent pharmacies addressed to Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the sector’s “desperate situation at the front line of the NHS,” highlighting the daily care they provide to millions of patients in high streets, villages, and communities.
Pharmacists serving an estimated 15.5 million patients said there is a gap exceeding £2 billion between NHS funding and the cost of running a pharmacy. They argued that they routinely subsidize NHS prescriptions while simultaneously helping to drive down medicine prices, a contribution they described as “simply not right.”
The warning follows a survey by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which revealed that about two out of three pharmacies operated at a loss last year. The association noted that eight pharmacies closed in January alone, and 95% of members reported that they are financially unable to support government ambitions to expand care into the community.
Olivier Picard, NPA chairman, emphasized the severity of the crisis, stating that “pharmacies serving millions of patients are at real risk of closure as a tsunami of new costs arrives.” He added that the sector’s struggles are now a matter of patient access and NHS resilience, not merely funding.
The NPA warned that without immediate government action, millions of patients could lose access to their most accessible healthcare service—the local pharmacy—potentially straining other parts of the NHS.
Responding to the warnings, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said the government is aware of the challenges and working to address “a decade of underfunding and neglect” in community pharmacies.
The department highlighted that pharmacy funding was increased to £3.1 billion this year, marking the largest uplift for any NHS sector in the past two years. Officials said this funding aims to bring more care closer to patients, freeing up GP appointments and supporting community-based services.
The spokesperson also cited growth in services such as free contraceptive consultations, which reached over 660,000 patients in the 12 months up to August 2025, a 300% increase from the previous year.
Despite government assurances, pharmacy owners stress that urgent action is critical to prevent closures, protect patient access, and maintain the NHS’s frontline services.
The situation underscores the growing financial pressures on healthcare providers in the UK and the potential consequences for patient care if funding gaps are not addressed.
This warning from independent pharmacists comes at a pivotal moment as the government seeks to expand community-based care while ensuring the sustainability of critical NHS services.
