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Professor Mahendra Patel OBE, CEO of the Oxford University Centre for Research Equity (CfRE), has been appointed as an independent expert member of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board. The newly established Board comprises nine independent expert members (IEMs) with outstanding leadership capabilities, who were appointed through open recruitment, ensuring a "broad, balanced, and diverse" representation. Sir Hugh Taylor KCB, the Independent Chair of the Board, and the UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers (CPhOs) - Andrew Evans (Wales), Cathy Harrison (Northern Ireland), Alison Strath (Scotland), and David Webb (England) - announced the appointment of IEMs in an open letter to the UK pharmacy professions. "Bringing a wealth of experience and expertise, they will play a pivotal role in the Board's work to deliver an exciting vision through supporting a new and dynamic phase of collaboration," the CPhOs said. As the CEO of CfRE, Professor Patel spearheads efforts aimed at addressing inequalities in healthcare.

The only way to overcome the challenges facing the medicines supply chain in the UK is through close cooperation - the government, pharmacies, and the industry all working together in tandem - said Andrew Stephenson, Minister for Health and Social Care. The MP for Pendle, Lancashire made the statement while addressing the Healthcare Distribution Association's (HDA) Annual Conference at the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall, London on Thursday (25 January), where over 130 leaders from the pharma industry gathered. As the keynote speaker, Stephenson acknowledged the crucial role wholesalers, manufacturers, and retail pharmacy chains, play in the wellbeing of the nation. He said: "In the first few months that I've been in this job, it's become immediately obvious to me just how important this sector is and just how important the work that all of you do is for our country."

In a significant event organised by Eastern Eye (EE), a sister publication of Pharmacy Business, political leaders gathered on July 1st to address pressing issues affecting the Asian community The EE election debate aimed to amplify their political voice and encourage participation in the political process. The debate, moderated by Barnie Choudhury, Editor of Eastern Eye, saw prominent figures including Andrew Boff AM of the Conservative Party, Anneliese Dodds represented Labour as Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, and Lord Richard Newby from the Liberal Democrats engaged in a robust discussion. They fielded questions on various issues affecting the UK, including economic and social inequality, immigration, health inequalities, and funding cuts to community pharmacies. Amid an audience that included stakeholders from the pharmacy sector, a notable query focused on each party's stance on the role of community pharmacies and their commitment to funding these vital services.

Well Pharmacy, the UK's largest independent pharmacy chain, recently announced the opening of a new store inside WHSmith's flagship airside location at Birmingham Airport. This expansion is part of Well Pharmacy's ongoing collaboration with WHSmith, the global travel retailer. Situated within the departure lounge of Birmingham Airport, the biggest and busiest airport in the Midlands and the seventh largest in the UK, the new pharmacy will offer travelers a wide range of pharmacy products and expert healthcare services. The new pharmacy complements WHSmith's extensive selection of health and beauty items, travel essentials, food-to-go, and tech products. Andrew Caplan, chief retail officer at Well Pharmacy, expressed enthusiasm about the continued partnership. "Well Pharmacy are delighted to continue to work in partnership with WHSmith in providing a one stop shop for all travellers' needs," he stated.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee announced last week that it is in discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England about relieving capacity pressures, such as a relaxation of pharmacy opening hours requirements. PSNC is also scheduling webinars to talk with contactors about the steps they might be willing to take in future, to cut costs, should emergency financial relief fail to materialise. The pharmacy regulator reported that many of its members felt that it was no longer tenable for pharmacies to keep offering all of the free and non-core services to patients that they would like to, and that all contractors should consider what steps they could take to try to safeguard their businesses and their core services for patients. PSNC is also keen to talk to contractors about their current situation and the steps they might be willing to take in future, should emergency relief not be forthcoming.