The National Association of Health Stores (NAHS) is calling upon retailers to support a petition it has put to the Government.
The petition – Grant health stores a business rates dispensation – appeals to the Government to give independent health stores a business rates dispensation similar to that awarded to pubs. The NAHS argues this would serve as recognition of their ‘perceived value to communities’ in stress management and ‘community cohesion’.
“Independent health stores play a vital role in supporting preventative health, saving the NHS millions of pounds annually. As valuable assets who invest in the health of their local communities, health stores deserve the same recognition and dispensation of £1,000 currently awarded to Public Houses,” states the petition.
We can’t do it alone! We need 100,000 signatures to have this debated in Parliament
“The NHS is reaching a crisis point and must now utilize resources that currently exist to help take the pressure off this valuable service. Numerous scientific studies have shown that improving diet and lifestyle choices play a huge part in disease management and we believe that the time has come to recognise the part highly trained health stores can play in improving the health of the nation,” says NAHS.
NAHS is reaching out to retailers to sign the petition. “We can’t do it alone! We need 100,000 signatures to have this debated in Parliament, so we need everyone in the industry to play their part.” Please pledge your support here.
