To ask the Minister of Health (i) to detail his plans to resolve the funding deficit that exists for community pharmacies, including reviewing the current drug tariff and clawback model; and (ii) for his assessment of the current operating conditions for pharmacies, given that many are operating at a loss, are having to use their own personal savings and are unable to employ and train staff.

I very much appreciate the extremely important work that community pharmacies deliver for our population.

My Department undertook a consultation seeking to improve the Drug Tariff arrangements in April 2022 and work is currently in train to take forward the first element of reform involving discount clawbacks.

In light of representations from the sector, I held a meeting with representatives of CPNI and I have asked that further work is undertaken to review financial arrangements which includes elements of the Drug Tariff. I encouraged CPNI to continue to work with Department officials to seek ways to ensure the pharmacy service can develop in line with our shared strategic objectives.