Pharmacies are suffering a £67,500 annual shortfall each because government funding failed to keep pace with economic growth, analysts have revealed.
The Company Chemists’ Association accused ministers of depriving local outlets of the sum which could be used to help patient services.
It said the “funding model” was “truly broken” - and pointed to figures which, it said, meant a five-year funding deal with England’s local pharmacies would be worth more than £3.37billion if it had risen in line with GDP over the past seven years.
But, instead, it is worth £2.59bn - meaning a “shortfall” of more than £750m a year, according to the CCA.
The group said that with 11,500 pharmacies, that meant an average shortfall of £67,513 each.
The CCA said the missing money “could be invested in frontline pharmacy staff allowing pharmacies to provide even more vital patient-facing care – something that the Health Secretary has repeatedly alluded to”.
The research comes as the Tories plan to encourage chemists to take on more responsibilities in a bid to ease the crisis gripping the NHS.
CCA chief executive Malcolm Harrison told the Mirror: “Unfortunately, the Government and the NHS expect pharmacy teams to do more and more without the funding the sector needs.
“This cannot continue.
“Without immediate investment, we will see the continued erosion of the service pharmacies can provide.”
The claim comes following a written parliamentary question to the Department of Health, answered by Health Minister Will Quince.
“The department has finally confirmed what we have felt for many years - that community pharmacy is now seriously underfunded,” said Mr Harrison.
“If funding for the sector kept pace with growth in GDP since 2015/16, the value of the contract in 2022/23 would be more than £3.36bn.
“There is currently an annual shortfall in funding of more than £750m.
“This equates to more than £67,000 per pharmacy – money that could be invested in frontline pharmacy staff, allowing pharmacists to provide even more vital patient-facing care for the NHS.
“This is yet further confirmation that the funding model for pharmacy in England is truly broken.”
Labour said the community pharmacy system was in crisis.
Shadow Primary Care Minister Feryal Clark warned: "Patients are waiting longer than ever before, and with community pharmacy being the front door to the health service for many, this failure will have an impact across the NHS.
"The next Labour Government will deliver a 10-year plan of change and reform of the NHS, shifting the focus of healthcare into the community.
"Pharmacy services will be at the heart of our reform agenda, so patients get the care they need when they need it."
A Department of Health spokesman said: “Community pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system and we back them with £2.6billion a year. On top of this, we have announced a further £100million investment in the sector to help support services.
“Pharmacies already provide a range of clinical services and over the next 18 months we will be increasing the support pharmacists - who are degree qualified medical health professionals - can provide including taking referrals from A&E, managing oral contraception needs and supporting patients who have been newly-prescribed antidepressants.”
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