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The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) will “assess whether additional regulatory powers are needed to strengthen assurance of pharmacy ownership and accountability”, it has said in its plan for the next five years.
In its strategy delivery plan for 2025–2030, published on 28 October 2025, the regulator also said it would expand contact with pharmacies “beyond inspections” by “developing additional routes for engagement with pharmacy owners and teams” and scope whether inspection frequency could be incorporated into its risk-based approach “to ensure regular and proportionate regulatory contact”.
Commenting on the strategy, Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, warned that regulatory bodies should “be careful not to add further burdens” onto responsible pharmacy owners struggling under a difficult funding situation.
“Pharmacies are under immense financial pressures due to a legacy of government underfunding but are going to extraordinary lengths, including remortgaging homes or raiding personal savings, to continue to support patients and meet their obligations,” he added.
“The GPhC and NHS already have extensive powers available to them if they feel pharmacies are falling short. We should be careful not to add further burdens on the many pharmacies who take their responsibilities very seriously despite the significant financial crisis that they face.”
The proposals follow a parliamentary debate on 15 October 2025 concerning the possible regulation of pharmacy owners, after pharmacy chain Jhoots was reported to have not been paying its staff and leaving patients without access to prescriptions after unexpected store closures.
The GPhC strategy delivery plan also included information about cost savings and technology use.
Under its strategy, the regulator said it would deliver at least £400,000 in cost savings by April 2026 “through improved efficiency and prioritisation”. The GPhC also said that by April 2028, it would deliver an additional £700,000 in savings and achieve cumulative savings of £1.5m by the end of 2027/2028.
In addition, the GPhC said that by April 2026, it will have developed a framework for the responsible use of AI and begun identifying early pilot areas.
