Wales announces 4% funding increase for community pharmacies
The Welsh Government has reached an agreement with NHS Wales and Community Pharmacy Wales to increase the total funding available to community pharmacies by 4% for 2025–26. This uplift is worth around £7 million and takes the total value of Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) fees and allowances to approximately £182 million.
Why this matters
Community pharmacies are frontline healthcare providers: they dispense medicines, deliver urgent care services and increasingly provide clinical advice and preventative interventions. The uplift is described by the Welsh cabinet secretary for health and social services as a “record level of investment” that recognises the vital role pharmacy teams play across Wales.
The 4% increase is framed as a contribution towards addressing immediate financial pressures while supporting longer-term reform ambitions set out in Wales’ pharmacy strategy. The Welsh Government notes this funding rise brings pharmacy income to nearly 30% higher than it was in 2016–17.
What the money will (and won’t) do
According to the written statement, the uplift will raise CPCF fees and allowances and form part of a package to support community pharmacy teams. The funding is intended to:
- help address immediate operating and workforce pressures;
- support the delivery and expansion of clinical services in community settings;
- underpin progress towards broader reforms in how pharmacy services are delivered in Wales.
It is important to be realistic: a one-off or single-year percentage uplift does not automatically resolve longer-term structural challenges such as rising staffing costs, business rates or the impact of inflation. Sector bodies welcomed the extra funding, but many will see it as part of a continuing dialogue about sustainable funding and service models.
Reaction from the sector
Community Pharmacy Wales welcomed the settlement and said the extra funding will help address immediate challenges for pharmacies across Wales. Industry publications and commentators described the announcement as a positive step which still needs to be followed by clear operational and contractual detail so pharmacies can plan for the year ahead.
Practical implications for pharmacy teams and patients
For pharmacy owners and managers the immediate priority will be understanding how the uplift affects individual fees and allowances, and whether it allows them to maintain services such as evening opening, free deliveries and local public-health programmes. For patients, the hoped-for result is continued access to local pharmacy services and, where possible, improved availability of clinical support in the community.
What to watch next
- Publication of the detailed CPCF schedules and guidance for 2025–26 — this will show how the uplift is allocated across fees and allowances.
- Any further statements from Community Pharmacy Wales or trade bodies explaining operational impacts for independent and multiple pharmacies.
- Local implementation — how health boards and pharmacies translate national funding into local services and capacity.
Summary: The Welsh Government has agreed a 4% uplift to community pharmacy funding for 2025–26 — an additional £7m that raises the CPCF to around £182m. The announcement is welcomed by the sector but will need clear contractual detail and continued engagement to turn extra money into sustainable services for patients.
Sources: Welsh Government written statement; reporting from The Pharmacist, The Pharmaceutical Journal, Chemist & Druggist and Pharmacy Magazine.
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