Pharmaceutical needs assessments (PNAs) explained
What a PNA is, why it matters for pharmacy applications, and how it is used in the market entry process.
What is a PNA?
Every health and wellbeing board (HWB) area in England is required to publish a pharmaceutical needs assessment — a document that maps current pharmaceutical service provision and identifies current or future gaps in services. PNAs are updated at least every three years. They form a key part of the evidence base used when ICBs consider market entry applications.
How PNAs affect applications
When an ICB considers a new pharmacy application, one of the first things it looks at is what the current PNA says about the area where the proposed pharmacy would be located. If the PNA identifies a need for additional pharmaceutical services in that area, an application may have a stronger prospect of success. If the PNA identifies that needs are already being met, an application faces a more difficult task.
PNA gaps and unforeseen needs
Even where a PNA does not identify a specific need, an application may still succeed on the basis that it would meet an unforeseen benefit — a need that was not identified when the PNA was prepared. This is one of the more technically complex application routes.
PNA limitations
PNAs vary significantly in quality and detail. Some are highly granular; others are broadly written and of limited use in assessing specific application sites. An experienced consultant will review the relevant PNA carefully and advise on how it is likely to be applied to your proposed application.
Wales
Wales has its own pharmaceutical needs assessment framework under the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2020, administered by local health boards. The Welsh framework differs from the English process in important respects.
Frequently asked questions
In England, PNAs are produced by health and wellbeing boards (HWBs) — statutory bodies at local authority level. Each HWB area is required to publish a PNA and to update it at least every three years. The PNA must be consulted upon before publication and must reflect the current state of pharmaceutical service provision in the area.
PNAs are publicly available documents. They are published by health and wellbeing boards and are typically available on the ICB or local authority website for your area. NHS England also maintains records of current PNAs. TI Pharmacy Consultancy reviews the relevant PNA as part of every market entry assessment.
A PNA that is out of date or that does not accurately reflect current pharmaceutical service provision can affect the outcome of pharmacy applications. In some circumstances, it may be possible to argue that the PNA does not reflect the current position — for example, where a pharmacy has closed since the PNA was published. TI Pharmacy Consultancy advises on PNA-related arguments in support of applications.
An unforeseen benefit is a market entry ground that allows a new pharmacy application to succeed even where the PNA does not identify a need — on the basis that the proposed pharmacy would provide a benefit that was not anticipated when the PNA was prepared. It is one of the more technically complex application routes. TI Pharmacy Consultancy advises on whether an unforeseen benefits argument is available in a specific case.
Yes. Wales has its own pharmaceutical needs assessment framework under the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2020, administered by local health boards. The Welsh PNA framework differs from the English process in its structure and how it is used in application decisions.
Need professional advice?
The information above is for general awareness only. For advice specific to your situation, contact TI Pharmacy Consultancy for a free initial discussion.
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