Pharmacy numbers declining amidst growing prescription demand

Analysis by IQVIA revealed that over the past four years, from May 2020 to May 2024, the average number of prescriptions processed by pharmacies has risen
by 8 million per month.

However, this is happening against the backdrop of a declining number of pharmacies. During these four years, nearly 900 pharmacies have closed in England, with
almost 500 of those closures occurring in the last 12 months.

Carol Alexandre, vice president at IQVIA, presented the data at the recent SIGMA UK Community Pharmacy Conference 2024, where she shared insights into the dynamics
of the UK market, the pharmacy sector, and the Pharmacy First initiative.

As of August 2024, there were just 10,059 community pharmacies (excluding distance-selling pharmacies) in England, 1,589 less than in March 2015, when the number
stood at 11,647 (source: NHS BSA).

There has been a significant shift in the distribution of pharmacy ownership, with independents (single pharmacies and chains with 1-5 stores) and regional chains
(pharmacy chains with 6-200 stores) growing at the expense of managed chains.