Pharmacy economics: are proposals for a national contract already redundant?

Abstract

Community pharmacists are currently in the process of negotiating a new remuneration system and terms of service. Since 1948, community pharmacists have had “independent contractor” status within the NHS and have been paid on the basis of a national pharmacy contract. Unlike the payment system for family doctors, the existing pharmacy contract is extremely simple, with the majority of income being derived from dispensing fees. As a result, this national arrangement is easy to administer but contains few incentives to encourage pharmacists to enhance the services they offer.