Pharmacies are set to join a UK-wide day of “black out” protests against NHS funding.
Pharmacy lights will be turned off on Thursday and staff are being encouraged to wear black to symbolise the dark times being faced.
The action is being led by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and comes as pharmacies across Britain and the north are experiencing severe financial problems and uncertain times.
In Northern Ireland, 14 pharmacies have closed in the last 12 months.
Pressure on staff has also been increased amid a national medicines shortage, which means pharmacy teams are sometimes spending hours trying to get a patient’s medicines.
In addition to this, pharmacies in Northern Ireland are facing a cash flow crisis which means they are juggling payments to their medicine wholesalers to keep supply lines open.
Gerard Greene, chief executive of Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland represents the network of over 500 pharmacies.
“Here in Northern Ireland, pharmacy contractors are living hand to mouth from one month to the next as we are constrained by an outdated Department of Health funding model that has created the difficulties and led to the closures,” he said.
“It’s time for the Department of Health here to take urgent action to change this crippling funding model, before we lose more pharmacies from our high streets and villages.”
Pharmacies will remain open throughout the day.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Against the backdrop of the current severe budgetary pressures and the multiple demands for additional funding across all parts of health and social care, additional investment continues to be provided to the community pharmacy sector.
“The department has committed to taking forward further work with Community Pharmacy NI to review the current financial framework for community pharmacy, including drug tariff arrangements, within current affordability.”
