Pharmacy business

Online pharmacies more than twice as likely to fail regulatory standards, finds analysis

Exclusive: An analysis conducted by The Pharmaceutical Journal has found that between April 2024 and January 2025, 10% of distance-selling pharmacies failed General Pharmaceutical Council inspections compared with 5% of high street pharmacies.…

Fewer people reporting problems obtaining prescriptions in England, show ONS data

Survey results have revealed that 88.1% of patients said they experienced no issues accessing medicines from their pharmacy in January 2025, compared with 79.9% in August 2024.…

Almost 400,000 patients unable to get prescriptions from their local pharmacy, analysis reveals

The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to take steps to address cost increases that are affecting medicines access and struggling pharmacies.…

Four pharmacies closed per week in 2024, says National Pharmacy Association

The National Pharmacy Association is urging the government to commence consultations on the 2025 ‘Community pharmacy contractual framework’ to prevent more closures.…

PJ view: There are still reasons to be optimistic about pharmacy in 2025, despite a challenging 2024 

A turbulent 2024 has left the pharmacy profession with many uncertainties, but there are still opportunities to come in 2025.…

Seven in ten pharmacy owners are concerned financial pressures will affect patient safety this winter

More than one-third of respondents to Community Pharmacy England’s winter pressures poll said they were concerned their pharmacy businesses may not survive the winter months.…

Online pharmacies to be inspected within six months of registration, says GPhC

The target for first inspections of new bricks-and-mortar pharmacies will be extended to 12 months.…

More appeals to open pharmacies turned down in 2024 than in each of two previous years

Exclusive: Out of the 103 appeals ruled on by NHS Resolution between October 2021 and September 2024, 60% were rejected.…

Boots pharmacy sales up 10% in fourth quarter of 2024

Boots UK attributes the sales increase to the launch of Pharmacy First, a record year for travel vaccinations and increasing demand for Boots Online Doctor.…

More than 12,000 pharmacies reported as ‘active’ in 2023/2024 after large numbers changed hands

NHS Business Services Authority data also show an increase in dispensed prescription items in 2023/2024, up 3% on 2022/2023.…