Shutterstock.com
Decisions about NHS dispensing contracts for new pharmacies in Wales will now be made using pharmaceutical needs assessment after the Public Health (Wales) Bill received Royal Assent this week.
The new system, already in place in England, replaces the current system which allows a new contract to be issued only if patients are deemed not able to access prescriptions quickly enough.
The Public Health (Wales) Act places a requirement on local health boards to produce a pharmaceutical needs assessment for their local communities, and then issue new pharmacy contracts if they meet a need specified in that assessment.
The Act also places restrictions on smoking in school grounds, hospital grounds and public playgrounds.
