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The number of appeals and dispute applications received by NHS Resolution (NHSR) relating to pharmacy fell slightly between 2024-25 and 2025-26, although the number of appeals involving distance-selling pharmacies (DSPs) increased during that period, according to the latest data. 

NHSR’s annual report and accounts for 2025-26 reveals 311 applications out of 388 received in total across the medical, pharmacy, dental and other sectors were linked to pharmacy.

Of those 311 applications, 263 were pharmacy market entry and change of listing appeals, 39 were pharmacy performance sanction appeals and nine were pharmacy overpayment appeals.

The report also revealed 230 pharmacy market entry and change of listing appeals, 40 pharmacy performance sanction appeals and 47 pharmacy overpayment appeals were resolved.

Of those 230 appeals, 188 were market entry cases including relocations compared with 131 in 2024-25. Of those 188 market entry cases, 116 were appeals regarding DSPs compared with 29 in 2024-25. NHSR said it “determined” 66 DSP appeals in 2025-26 compared with 25 in 2024-25.

“These significant increases are because on 2 June 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that, with effect from 23 June 2025, no new applications to open DSPs could be lodged,” the NHSR said. “This resulted in a surge of applications at local level.”

By comparison, in 2024-25, 361 applications were received across all sectors and of those, 325 related to pharmacy. Fifty-five were pharmacy performance sanction appeals, 207 were pharmacy market entry and change of listing appeals and 63 were pharmacy overpayment appeals.

The report revealed 46 pharmacy performance sanction appeals, 171 pharmacy market entry and change of listing appeals and 26 pharmacy overpayment appeals were resolved.

In 2024-25, 18 medical and 11 dental disputes were received compared with 58 and 14 respectively in 2025-26.