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Almost three-quarters of pharmacists responding to a Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) survey said that the use of AI in pharmacy practice gives them some cause for concern.
However, almost half (49%; n=69) said they felt positive about its use.
The findings were revealed on 1 July 2026 in the ‘Pharmacist AI use and impact survey’. The survey, carried out between 16 and 30 March 2026, received 141 pharmacist respondents.
Of these, 57% (n=80) were based in hospital; 17% (n=24) in general practice; and 2.1% (n=3) in community pharmacy.
In response to the question: ‘Are there elements of AI tools that give you cause for concern?’, 74% of respondents (n=104) answered ‘yes’.
However, in response to the statement ‘I feel positive about the use of AI tools in pharmacy practice’, 38% of respondents (n=53) agreed and 11% (n=16) strongly agreed.
The college said the survey was conducted to explore how AI is currently being used across pharmacy settings and to identify potential benefits and barriers to adoption. It was also aimed to find out more about the type of support pharmacy professionals need to use AI with confidence.
The results showed that just under two-thirds (63.8%, n=90) of respondents reported having used AI at work, with the most common uses including: the streamlining of administrative tasks (85.6%; n=77); development of educational material (68.9%, n=62); and using it in professional development or learning tools (62.2%; n=56).
Clinical use was less common, with 37% (n=33) of respondents reported having used it for drug interaction/contraindications checkers and 36% (n=32) using it in clinical decision support systems.
Only 10% of respondents (n=9) had used it in predictive analytics for medication adherence.
Of those who had used AI at work, 58% of respondents (n=52) reported some concerns around accuracy/clinical safety, while just over one-third (34%; n=31) reported concerns around lack of guidance or training in use of AI.
Of those who had concerns, the biggest was the risk of error and false information/ hallucinations (92%, n=96), followed by lack of education or training on appropriate use (72%, n=75) and risk of bias, inequity or unfair decision-making (66%, n=69).
Among the 51 respondents who had not used AI at work, the biggest reason cited for non-use was concerns about accuracy or safety (78%, n=40), followed by unclear governance or accountability (65%, n=33) and lack of training or confidence (49%, n=25).
In a report on the survey, the College said there were some limitations in interpreting the findings.
“The survey was based on a self-selected sample of 141 respondents, which may over-represent pharmacy professionals with a particular interest in, awareness of, or concern about AI.
“The sample was also weighted towards hospital pharmacy,” it added.
“Further empirical work is also needed to evaluate the real-world impact of AI tools on pharmacy workflows, professional decision-making, patient communication, safety, equity and outcomes.”
“RCPharm will use these findings to inform the development of further guidance, identify priority areas for professional support, and shape future work on the role of AI in pharmacy practice,” it said.
Geraldine McCaffrey, director for Wales at the Royal College of Pharmacy, said: “As AI becomes increasingly available across healthcare, it’s important to understand how pharmacy professionals are already using these technologies in practice and where they need further support. Our survey shows AI is already being used by many pharmacists for administrative tasks and learning, while also highlighting the need for clear guidance, education and training and robust governance.
“We support the responsible and effective use of AI to enhance, not replace, pharmacists’ expertise and professional judgement. We will use the findings to help shape future guidance and support so pharmacy teams can adopt AI safely, confidently and in ways that benefit patient care.”
On 6 July 2026, the STADA Health Report — based on a survey of adult patients from across 20 European countries, including the UK — revealed that 50% of respondents were open to AI managing appointments and follow-ups.
More than one-third of respondents (36%) said they would agree to AI writing notes during doctor visits, while 31% said they would agree to AI generating discharge summaries.
However, 18% said they would not want to accept any use of AI in their care.
The majority of respondents (77%) described their GP and more than half described their pharmacists (57%) as their main influence in health-related decisions, while 38% expressed concern about reduced human interaction in an AI-driven system.
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, said the findings reflect “the high level of trust that patients place in community pharmacies”.
“Pharmacies are often the first port of call for people seeking advice, treatment and support because they are accessible, convenient and embedded within their local communities. The report makes clear that while patients are open to AI playing a role in healthcare, they still value the trusted clinical advice, reassurance and personal interaction provided by pharmacy teams.”
