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More than two-thirds (68%) of people in the UK say they trust pharmacists “quite well” or “completely”, placing pharmacists second only to GPs for public trust in healthcare professionals, according to a new Europe-wide survey.
This level of trust makes the UK, alongside the Netherlands (also 68%), the third highest country in Europe for pharmacist trust — just behind Belgium and Ireland (both 69%).
The findings come from a survey carried out by market research consultancy Human8 on behalf of STADA Thornton and Ross, a UK pharmaceutical manufacturer.
More than 27,000 adults across 22 European countries took part between March and April 2025, including 2,001 respondents from the UK.
According to the survey, the most common reason Europeans visit a pharmacy is for face-to-face advice on medicines and side effects, with 40% of respondents citing this.
More than one-quarter of respondents (28%) said they go to their pharmacy because they know and trust the staff.
The survey also explored attitudes towards AI and health. In the UK, 61% of adults said they had doubts about the accuracy of AI, while 24% said they were concerned about data safety and privacy.
Across Europe, 44% of respondents said they did not want to miss out on personal interaction with healthcare providers, and 39% did not want to depend on technology for medical matters.
Commenting on the findings, Fiona McIntyre, AI policy lead at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), said: “At a time when digital innovation is reshaping our lives it’s clear that there’s still deep trust in the human connection offered by pharmacists. This once again reaffirms the central role pharmacists play in providing information, advice, reassurance and care.
“[The RPS supports] the responsible and effective use of AI across healthcare settings, including pharmacy services, to improve the safe and effective use of medicines in any setting, and achieve better patient outcomes,” she added.
Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, welcomed the findings, describing pharmacists as “the front door to the NHS, well-trained, friendly, local, and there when people need them”.
“What can be done with technology can be amazing, but people will always value the accessibility that pharmacies offer, and the knowledge of the teams there.
“That’s why we want to do far more, and hope that the upcoming NHS plan puts pharmacies front and centre in delivering sustainable community healthcare.
“Whether prescribing weight-loss jabs, helping to keep the pressure off GPs and hospitals, or just offering advice, community pharmacy stands ready to do far more,” she added.
On 24 June 2025, community pharmacy bodies warned that demand for the weight-loss drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro: Eli Lilly) — which can now be prescribed by GPs — will exceed supply, suggesting that pharmacies could offer support services to patients.
