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The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and the Centre for Research Equity (CfRE) at the University of Oxford have launched a partnership to use the NPA’s 6,000 member pharmacies across the UK to recruit more diverse participants for clinical trials.
In the ‘Community pharmacy manifesto’ launched on 3 December 2025, the two bodies said the initiative will “focus on reaching people from deprived communities and minority ethnic groups”.
The manifesto says it will “ensure that people living in deprived communities and minority ethnic groups are properly represented in trials” and “reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for all”.
According to the manifesto document, the NPA and the CfRE will develop a network of research sites in community pharmacies in the UK to support inclusive patient and public involvement and participation in research.
The manifesto also sets out its aim to “evidence the benefits for community-based recruitment and research trial/study design” and “build on the evidence base around the determinants of health and social care inequalities and propose methods and research design to improve outcomes for all”.
The two organisations said creating a network of community pharmacies that take part in clinical trials and practice research will enable them to give advice at research trial development and delivery phases to understand the equity implications and provide solutions.
The partnership will offer structured training programmes, including workshops, toolkits and guidance, the manifesto said. It also revealed that the initiative will share work that has overcome barriers to health and social care equity.
Mahendra Patel, director of the CfRE, commented: “Participants from underserved communities are often disproportionately under-represented in clinical research.
“Community pharmacies are a valuable local health resource. By engaging them as a channel to recruit participants, we can help ensure that research more accurately reflects the make-up of society and is inclusive and diverse.”
Sukhi Basra, vice chair of the NPA, said: “NPA members taking part will be helping to ensure safe and effective healthcare practice across the UK and worldwide. It is commonplace for GP practices to recruit patients into trials, and we are confident that the community pharmacy network can add value to research efforts.
“Developing a role in supporting clinical trials and health research could also be a financially valuable diversification opportunity for some hard-pressed pharmacies.”
A report published in June 2025 by academics from the University of Liverpool, Manchester Metropolitan University and University College London found that patients and healthcare professionals wanted to see “traditionally excluded” people, such as older people, women, ethnic minorities and children, included in clinical trial design and recruitment.
