Sauce Reques/ Alamy Stock Photo
Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) has agreed a funding uplift with the Scottish government for 2026/2027, the negotiator has said.
In an announcement published on 25 September 2026, CPS said that the deal includes a 3.5% — or £8.5m — uplift to the global sum, as well as an £10m increase in the guaranteed minimum reimbursement (dispensing margin) to £130m, up from £120m in 2025/2026.
CPS added that £10m will be transferred from the Scottish Drug Tariff into the dispensing pool from October 2026.
The negotiator clarified to The Pharmaceutical Journal that the transfer from the Drug Tariff to the dispensing pool is reclassifying how funding is accounted for within the overall pharmacy financial framework.
By transferring £10m into the dispensing pool, funding is distributed consistently across the entire network to recognise increasing costs and work undertaken, it said.
CPS also highlighted that the agreement includes a joint commitment with the Scottish government to examine the community pharmacy contractor cost base, which the negotiator said would help to inform future funding discussions and negotiations.
Matt Barclay, chief executive of CPS, said: “Within the parameters set by the Scottish government, CPS worked hard to secure the best deal possible for contractors.
“While the agreement provides increased funding certainty and a fairer distribution of newly secured funding across the network, further investment will be needed to support the long-term sustainability and development of community pharmacy.
“We remain committed to working constructively with ministers and government officials to ensure future funding arrangements reflect the vital and growing contribution community pharmacy makes to patients, communities and the wider NHS.”
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, commented that he was “concerned that the agreed settlement will not match the growing cost of delivering pharmaceutical services in Scotland”.
“We will work with colleagues in CPS and the Scottish government to understand more about the details behind the announcement, and how future settlements can be more reflective of growing costs of delivery for all contractors in Scotland,” he added.
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “This uplift is lower than many had hoped for, but we recognise and appreciate the work CPS has done in getting what they felt was the strongest deal available in the economic circumstances.
“The £10m increase to the guaranteed minimum income will be welcomed by our members. We will do all we can to support our members, who now have much needed certainty about the financial envelope for the next 12 months, and we are committed to helping ensure their businesses are resilient in tough financial times.”
The previous 2025/2026 settlement was agreed in two parts: a £10m uplift to the guaranteed minimum for reimbursement agreed in May 2025, and a 4% uplift applied to the global sum agreed in June 2025.
