AQW 43553/22-27
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast
Tabled Date: 31/03/2026
Answered On Date: 17/04/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail when he will commence overarching contractual and funding negotiations with Community Pharmacy NI.
Answer:
The current community pharmacy contractual arrangements in Northern Ireland centre around a funding envelope determined by the Department in the context of the overall funding available for Health and Social Care (HSC), and services commissioned by the Strategic Planning and Performance Group, in line with a three-year commissioning plan developed in collaboration with Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI). The Community Pharmacy Commissioning Plan 2025-2028 is based on the previously agreed community pharmacy contractual framework that is comprised of: (1) Practice Quality System; (2) Core Services; (3) Additional Services; and (4) Locally Required Services. Community Pharmacy in NI has benefitted from these arrangements, with yearly increases to recurrent funding, annual pay uplifts aligned with DDRB and exceptional investments such as for National Insurance increases. This has included uplifts to the non-global sum, the application of which is determined through extensive engagement with Community Pharmacy NI. Since April 2018, there has been an increase in Government funding for community pharmacy HSC service provision of almost £60m (57%). I recently approved a 4% inflationary uplift for 2025/26 which equates to £4.72m. Furthermore, in acknowledgement of recent concerns raised by CPNI regarding financial pressures arising from current price fluctuations for a number of medicines, and in order to support the network, I have approved an increase in the special advance payable to contractors. I trust this will be welcomed by the sector. This continuous and substantial investment has been made over many years, and I propose no change to the current arrangements at this time. My Department is facing severe financial constraints due to the growing demand for healthcare from an ageing population, soaring inflationary costs and a major deficit. Despite these challenges, there is an ambition to optimise community pharmacy’s contribution to population health through delivery of the Community Pharmacy Strategic Plan 2030 and the three-year Commissioning Plan. My Department remains committed to continued engagement with Community Pharmacy NI through the established fora, to oversee the delivery of commissioned HSC community pharmacy services in line with the available financial envelope and against the agreed Commissioning Plan, in order to ensure the provision of best possible services to patients and the public.
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