Motion 41
Holding Pharmacy Business Owners to Account - Protecting Patients & the NHS
“That this Congress notes that community pharmacies operate under NHS contracts to provide essential pharmaceutical services to the public. These businesses have an ethical obligation to prioritise patient care over profit.
“Congress is appalled by recent revelations of abusive business practices by some pharmacy companies, including closing branches entirely rather than paying pharmacists a fair rate. This leaves vulnerable patients and communities without access to vital medicines. Such actions put profit before people and undermine the integrity and capacity of wider NHS services.
“Congress further notes that the regulator responsible for overseeing pharmacy owners and enforcing standards rarely takes meaningful action against businesses that breach their obligations. Despite evidence of harm to patients and communities, enforcement remains weak, and contracts are almost never rescinded.
“Congress believes this lack of accountability creates a dangerous precedent where community pharmacy businesses can neglect their NHS duties without consequence. Patients suffer, staff are exploited, and public confidence in pharmacy services is eroded.
“Congress therefore calls on the General Council to lobby the Scottish Government and relevant regulatory bodies to:
- strengthen enforcement powers to ensure pharmacy owners, who fail to meet contractual obligations face real consequences, including financial penalties and, in the extreme, contract termination. Management choices must have consequences when patients are let down;
- ensure adequate inspections. The regulator must regularly inspect premises meaningfully and take proportionate action without fear or favour; and
- ensure Fair Work must apply to NHS Expenditure on Pharmacy. End the clandestine exception of community pharmacy contracts from conditionality and instigate tripartite negotiations.
“Congress believes that stronger regulation and accountability are essential to protect communities and uphold the values of public healthcare. Congress further believes NHS Scotland must:
- not tolerate business practices that put profit before patients; and
- ensure that taxpayer funded community pharmacy includes tripartite social partnership.”
Mover: Pharmacists Defence Association (PDA)
RSS