Health and care policy

PJ view: Let’s showcase how pharmacy can narrow health inequalities

The Pharmaceutical Journal is calling for examples from any pharmacy sector of projects that aim to tackle health inequalities.…

Two major drug manufacturers pull out of voluntary repayment arrangements with UK government 

A spokesperson for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said companies are struggling to justify being part of the voluntary scheme.…

Pharmacy teams could visit community and faith groups to cut health inequalities, says Royal Pharmaceutical Society

A position paper published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society suggests how organisations can work together to address health inequalities.…

Highlights of 2022: a letter from the three Royal Pharmaceutical Society national pharmacy board chairs

A central focus for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in England in 2022 was the development of our 'Vision for pharmacy professional practice', in partnership with The King’s Fund. This report, published on 14 December 2022, sets out how pharmacy teams can support better patient care and hel…

New ten-year vision for pharmacy says pharmacists will play important role in use of genomic data

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the King's Fund developed the vision with input from pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and patients.…

Will pharmacists go on strike over pay?

An overview of the pay-related industrial action rippling through the NHS and whether or not pharmacy will be the next sector to react.…

New RPS standards recommend that community pharmacies should ‘proactively manage’ palliative care medicines

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society and charity Marie Curie propose the development of multidisciplinary team working, so that pharmacy teams are aware of patients' support needs.…

Government shelves plan for ‘Pharmacy First’ service in England

The delayed agreement for the remaining two years of the 'Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework' confirms an excess margin write-off, meaning pharmacies will keep £100m they would otherwise have had to repay.…

Community pharmacy in Wales promised 4% funding uplift conditional on staff pay rises 

The uplift will increase annual community pharmacy contractual framework funding to £157.2m.…

NHS Scotland announces plan to switch patients to greener inhalers

A strategy document, published by NHS Scotland, says that improvements in the way asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are managed could help reduce metered dose inhaler use.…