As community pharmacy contractors, you will all be aware of the ongoing challenges facing the network in relation to medicine shortages and associated reimbursement issues.
The Department of Health have issued correspondence regarding the current shortage of co-codamol 30/500mg tablets. There will be limited supplies of co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets from early February 2026 until early June 2026. A Medicine Supply Notification (MPS 3456) was issued to general practices and community pharmacies on 12 January 2026, providing advice and guidance on actions to take until the supply disruption is resolved.
Action Required
Contractors should ensure that all staff are kept up to date with current medicine supply issues and are aware of the advice outlined in the Medicine Supply Notification. Contractors are also advised to liaise closely with local GP practices to support consistent messaging to patients, particularly in relation to stock availability, prescribing decisions, and suitable alternative treatments where appropriate.
CPNI is increasingly concerned about the rising number of medicine shortages and the associated reimbursement issues impacting community pharmacy. These concerns have been raised directly with the Minister for Health, and CPNI has issued a press release on this matter.
CPNI will continue to engage with the Department of Health and other stakeholders and will keep contractors updated on any further developments.
Kind regards,
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
MOIC Evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Stop Smoking Service
Dear Contractor,
SPPG issued correspondence dated 12 January 2026 regarding the evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Stop Smoking Service. The correspondence relates to all community pharmacy contractors, including both those who provide the stop smoking service, and those who do not.
SUMMARY
The SPPG correspondence advises that the Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre (MOIC), has been engaged by DoH to support an evaluation of the current Community Pharmacy Based Stop Smoking Service across NI.
The evaluation has now commenced and the following surveys are open:
The survey for community pharmacies involved in providing the Stop Smoking service is available here.
The survey for community pharmacies who are not involved in providing the Stop Smoking service is available here.
All members of the pharmacy team who either assist in the provision of the service or were involved in the decision not to provide the service are encouraged to complete the relevant survey.
Views provided by pharmacy teams will be essential to the evaluation process and the future commissioning and development of the Stop Smoking service.
Service User Survey
Materials for the service user surveys will have arrived in pharmacies at this point, and pharmacies may wish to use these to encourage relevant clients to participate.
Community Pharmacy NI has Warned of an Imminent Risk to the Supply of Essential Medicines in Northern Ireland
(L-R) Turlough Hamill, Gerard Greene and Marie Smith, Community Pharmacy NI; Danny Donnelly MLA.
Briefing MLAs at an All-Party Group meeting at Stormont on Tuesday 3 February 2026, representatives from CPNI advised of a growing shortage of many common medicines including the painkiller, co-codamol 30/500mg* which is likely to extend for several months.
URGENT REMINDER:Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service – Completion of Proforma for 24/25
For the attention of Community Pharmacies providing Community Pharmacy Care Home Support Service (CPCHSS)
Dear Contractor
SPPG have informed CPNI that there are a number of outstanding declaration forms for the care home support service which requires contractors to complete two visits per care home for the 24/25 year.
SUMMARY
A requirement for the Community Care Home Support Service is to complete two visits per care home in each financial year.
For the 24/25 year, there are a number of declaration forms still to be submitted to SPPG confirming that the two visits per care home have been completed.
SPPG have advised that there are some pharmacies that provide the CPCHSS who fall into one of the following categories:
Not submitted a return for any care home visit within the 24/25 year.
Only submitted a return for one visit for a care home within the 24/25 year.
Submitted returns for some care homes, but not all of the care homes that they are contracted for.
SPPG may recoup a proportion of the funding that has already been paid to community pharmacists who are contracted to provide the service but have not completed the required visits in line with the service specification.
ACTION
Contractors who provide the CPCHSS are requested to submit a return confirming the two visits per care home for 24/25 have been completed.
Ensure that the two visits per care home for 25/26 are completed before the end of March 2026.
If you wish to check if you have any outstanding returns due to SPPG regarding the 2024/25 care home support service please contact Tom Coyle at SPPG: Tom.Coyle@hscni.net.
Kind regards
SENT ON BEHALF OF GERARD GREENE Chief Executive
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