CCA manifesto for Wales urges next Welsh government to build on sector’s successes
The Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) has published its manifesto for Wales ahead of the Senedd elections (7th May).
Read the CCA manifesto for Wales
The manifesto urges political parties of all colours to pledge their support for the community pharmacy sector in Wales by committing to invest further in the benefits the sector offers the Welsh public.
The manifesto warns that whilst Wales has long taken a forward-thinking approach to community pharmacy, further investment is necessary to ensure the sector keeps pace with rising cost pressures and workload demands. These pressures led to 4% of Welsh pharmacies closing in 2023-2024.
The manifesto highlights the continued benefits that community pharmacies in Wales are delivering to local communities:
- The network of under 700 pharmacies dispenses 86m prescriptions each year1, the equivalent of 6m every week, including in some of the most rural demographics.
- The Common Ailments Service saw a 44% increase in 2024 compared to the previous year2 with over 400,0003 uses, clearly evidencing patient trust in pharmacy-led care.
- Nearly a third of pharmacies now offer an independent prescribing service4, unlocking the full clinical potential of pharmacists. With every pharmacy expected to have an independent prescriber by 2030, Wales is leading one of the most ambitious transformations of healthcare in the UK.5
The manifesto makes clear that with the right investment, community pharmacy can deliver even more world-class care to Welsh citizens, easing pressures across the NHS.
Community pharmacy is well-placed to play a larger role in urgent care, a greater role in managing chronic conditions, and delivering even more vital preventative services such as vaccinations, smoking cessation and weight management services.
The CCA urges the next Government in Wales to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector by, amongst other things:
- Funding community pharmacy in line with demand and rising costs to protect services and ensure capacity keeps pace with patient need.
- Investing in the workforce to support frontline teams and grow the number of independent prescribers.
- Accelerating digital transformation so pharmacies have interoperable systems and access to a single national clinical data resource.
Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive of the CCA, said:
“Pharmacies across Wales are stepping up and providing even more for patients. The potential of community pharmacy is huge, and if the next Welsh Government wants to harness this opportunity, protect patient access and free up NHS capacity, investment in the sector is non-negotiable.”
Read the CCA manifesto for Wales
Read the CCA manifesto for Wales (Welsh)
References
- Welsh Government, Primary care prescriptions: April 2024 to March 2025, 2 October 2025
- StatsWales, Common ailments service – number of consultations per ailment, by local health board
- Welsh Government, ‘More than 400,000 visit pharmacies for common health issues’, 21 January 2025StatsWales, Common ailments service – number of consultations per ailment, by local health board
- Welsh Government, ‘More than 400,000 visit pharmacies for common health issues’, 21 January 2025
- Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee, Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales, 2019