September 18th 2026

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Welsh Government commits to dispensing reform

The new Welsh Govenrment has pledged to uphold the dispensing GP recommendations made by the  previous Health and Social Care Committee and brokered by DDA Welsh Chair Dr Fiona Porter.

In its response to the Health and Social Care Committee’s Future of General Practice in Wales report, the Welsh Government has committed to developing a more coherent long-term framework for dispensing GPs, and to reconfirm its commitment to this agenda within its first 100 days.

The framework will include targeted digital and capital modernisation, reform of dispensing doctor remuneration, integration of quality requirements into the payment model, and consideration of reimbursement
issues.

Accepting this recommendation of the report, the new Welsh Government said: "Timescales will be confirmed as the detailed proposals are developed. The dispensing reform programme is continuing to support the sustainability of dispensing practices, particularly in rural communities, and to modernise the funding, quality and infrastructure arrangements that underpin dispensing services."

Dispensing reform in Wales is a key topic to be discussed on day one of the DDA 2026 Conference, following on from the DDA's podcast with Dr Fiona Porter and GPC Wales Deputy Chair Dr Ian Harris.