"Tunde Olawoye A pharmacist has racked up 145,000 in debt trying to keep his business afloat and fears he will not be able to afford to pay his staff each month. Tunde Olawoye is not alone in struggling, with pharmacists around Wales saying their costs have "gone through the roof", and they are now selling items such as aspirin at a loss."
"Around 60% of pharmacy owners in Wales have remortgaged their house or used personal savings to keep the doors open in the last year, according to the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). The Welsh government said it had made "significant investment in the sector in recent years", including increased funding for core services to enable reforms. Newport-based pharmacist Geoff Thomas has worked in the industry for 40 years and warned things are "heading off a cliff", unless there is serious change."
Pharmacists in Wales are experiencing acute financial pressure as operating costs rise and reimbursement has not increased in real terms for a decade. Many owners have remortgaged homes or used personal savings to stay open, and some are selling common medicines like aspirin at a loss. One pharmacist accrued 145,000 in debt and entered a repayment arrangement while considering but rejecting a sale that would not cover loans. The Welsh government reports investment and increased funding for core services, but owners say the agreed amounts for dispensing, fees, clinical services and operational costs are insufficient. Pharmacy closures have reduced networks elsewhere in the UK.
Read at www.bbc.com
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