AQW 21102/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 22/01/2025
Answered On Date: 06/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any consideration his Department has given to introducing a pension scheme for community pharmacists, similar to the schemes already available for GPs, optometrists and dentists.

Answer:

Access to a pension is an employer responsibility. Access to the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme is legislated for under The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and is limited to health service workers who are: employed by HSC employers; are an HSC contractor/provider or those employed by them – this includes GPs and dentists. Community pharmacy owners are the employers of community pharmacists in Northern Ireland and have a legal obligation to provide access to a workplace pension for their employees.