To ask the Minister of Health how he will implement the GPP NI 2030 strategy without the review and revaluation of the remuneration that community pharmacies receive from his Department.

Following positive evaluation of the benefits of the current general practice pharmacist (GPP) service, the publication of “GPP NI 2030 – A strategy for general practice pharmacy in Northern Ireland” sets out ambitious plans for future development of the sector.

The “GPP NI 2030” strategy outlines how general practice pharmacists can contribute fully to optimising the health outcomes of the population as clinical leads for medicines within the general practice team. It also sets out an ambition to develop and expand the workforce through the introduction of new advanced pharmacist practitioner roles, which will allow general practice pharmacists to enhance their clinical skills and expertise with greater benefit to patient care.

Realising the vision set out in “GPP NI 2030” will require collaborative working and new innovative approaches to the planning and delivery of general practice services, and additional investment to stabilise and develop service capacity and capability is needed to realise the full potential of the general practice pharmacy workforce.

My Department is committed to working with the sector to progress the recommendations outlined in “GPP NI 2030” over the coming months and years, however it is not possible to fund full implementation from within the Department’s existing resources and so delivery is dependent on securing the additional resources required.