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The Pharmacy Contract

The Pharmacy Contract, on the other hand, governs the operations
of community pharmacies across the UK. These establishments
play a crucial role in providing a wide range of healthcare services,
including dispensing medications, offering advice on over-the-
counter products, and supporting public health initiatives.

Key Points of the Pharmacy

Contract:

Accessibility and convenience:

Community pharmacies are strategically located
in urban and suburban areas, ensuring easy
access for a diverse population. They can dispense
to any patient who chooses to use their pharmacy
including dispensing patients from GP surgeries.
Pharmacies also offer open access to professional
expertise via their pharmacist. Pharmacists
in community pharmacies are highly trained
healthcare professionals who offer medication
counseling, conduct health checks, and provide a
broad spectrum of healthcare services under the
new additional services contract. The Pharmacy
Contract emphasizes the role of pharmacists
as accessible and knowledgeable healthcare
providers and this is essential in helping to
reduce GP workload.

Pharmacies receive a single activity fee
per item dispensed plus reimbursement
of the medication cost. The fee is lower
that a dispensary receives (circa 90p)
and the clawback is higher on generic
items. Profits here a less lucrative
than under the GMS contract but
pharmacies are able to sell medicines
and other items from there retail space
and here is where the profits are made.

16 PS Magazine | Understanding the differences