National Insurance hike: Supporting GPs but not pharmacies an ‘insult,’ says Paul Rees

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned of potential pharmacy closures in the coming months if long-standing funding cuts are not addressed and
pharmacies are not supported with the National Insurance rise.

With Downing Street suggesting that GP surgeries may receive extra support to offset the increase in employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) later this
year, NPA chief executive Paul Rees has called on the government to extend similar support to pharmacies.

A No 10 spokeswoman clarified that contracted workers, including GPs, were not eligible for an exemption from the NICs hike, which she said was consistent with
the approach of previous governments.

“There is a general process whereby departments, the Department of Health, for example, confirm their funding for general practices,” the spokeswoman said, noting
this process would occur later in the year.

In response, Paul said that it would be “an insult” if GPs were provided support for the National Insurance rise but not hard-working pharmacies, who have faced
nearly a decade of cuts in funding and are shutting at record rates.