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The King's New Year Honours List 2025 has been announced, recognising unsung heroes who have made outstanding contributions to their communities across the UK. Over 1,200 individuals were honoured this year across various sectors, including healthcare, academia, sports, and voluntary service. Two pharmacists were honoured for their exceptional contributions to public health: Laura Catherine McIver, former chief pharmacist at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to the pharmacy profession and patient safety. Alan Malcom Kurtz, proprietor and manager of Fishers Chemist in South Norwood, London, received a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to community pharmacy. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer thanked the recipients, saying: "Each and every day, ordinary people go out and do extraordinary things for their communities.

Wockhardt UK managing director Ravindra Limaye has been chosen for honorary British awards given to foreign nationals. Limaye gets the Order of the British Empire (OBE) honour for his contribution to health, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. The honours were announced on Thursday (13). Limaye has been the chief executive of the UK arm of the Mumbai-based pharma and biotech company Wockhardt since 2019. He previously worked for another Indian pharma company Biocon, overseeing its global commercial operations. He led the company's entry into global biosimilar markets and spearheaded its operations in the US.

The chief pharmaceutical officer (CPhO) for Wales and chief pharmacists at Boots and the Ministry of Defence are among a total of 1,134 people who received an award in the Queen's Birthday Honours list to mark her Platinum Jubilee. All three pharmacists were appointed officers of the Order of the British Empire or OBE. Andrew Evans, CPhO for Wales, was honoured "for services to the Covid-19 Response", Marc Donovan, chief pharmacist at Boots UK, "for services to pharmacy" and Sumeet Kaur Matharu, chief pharmacist at the Ministry of Defence, "for services to Armed Forces Healthcare". Giving his reaction to Pharmacy Business, Donovan said: I'm honoured to accept this recognition on behalf of the many dedicated and hard-working pharmacists and pharmacy teams that I have had the privilege to work alongside over the years.

The King's New Year Honours List 2025 has been announced, recognising unsung heroes who have made outstanding contributions to their communities across the UK. Over 1,200 individuals were honoured this year across various sectors, including healthcare, academia, sports, and voluntary service. Michelle Riddalls, CEO of PAGB - the Consumer Healthcare Association, has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her exceptional work in advocating for the over-the-counter (OTC) medicines sector. She played a vital role during Brexit negotiations, ensuring continued access to OTC medicines in Northern Ireland and supporting self-care initiatives across the UK. Riddalls has provided oral evidence numerous times to the House of Lords Select Committee on the NI Protocol Bill and actively engaged with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) during the rollout of the Windsor Framework.

Boots UK is set to start recruiting for a new superintendent pharmacist as Marc Donovan moved into a new role. The company announced the appointment of Anne Higgins as the new pharmacy director for Boots UK. A Boots veteran for 25 years, she has been in the role of director for stores for more than two years since starting her journey as a pre-register pharmacist in July 1997. Marc Donovan will be moving into the new role of director of healthcare development and public affairs for Boots. Earlier this year Donovan was appointed the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to pharmacy" in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Donovan and Higgins will be reporting to Jamie Kerruish, the director of healthcare at Boots UK. A Boots spokesperson told Pharmacy Business: "We will be recruiting for a new superintendent pharmacist and once this appointment is made, Marc will hand over his superintendent responsibilities"