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community pharmacies

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Viatris made ‘difficult decision’ not to supply flu vaccine for 2026-27 UK season

Viatris said it wanted “to give customers sufficient time to secure alternative supply".

27 Jul 2026

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Pharmacists had to procure their own PPE during pandemic, says Covid inquiry

The risks UK healthcare workers were exposed to as the disease spread were laid bare during the latest module of the inquiry.

16 Jul 2026

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Pharmacy group raises over £320,000 for One Kind Act charity

Pyramid Pharmacy Group, which has 27 pharmacies, brought together local businesses and other community stakeholders.

09 Jul 2026

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Burnham leaves door open to supporting struggling pharmacies with business rates

Andy Burnham may support pharmacies with tax cuts to help them cope with wage increases if he becomes prime minister.

06 Jul 2026

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The 2026 consumer is very different from the 1930s consumer

What does the evolving role of self-care mean for independent pharmacy? Lanes Health's Jonathan Groves explains.

03 Jul 2026

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NPA: NHSE chair’s drone remarks fundamentally misunderstand pharmacy’s role

National Pharmacy Association chair Olivier Picard criticised Dr Penny Dash for saying “the overall majority” of medicines will be delivered by drones.

03 Jul 2026

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Can pharmacies refuse to dispense at a loss?

This appears to be a commercial question but it is a legal one, rooted in the statutory framework governing NHS pharmaceutical services.

30 Jun 2026

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To deprescribe or not to deprescribe

Independents can identify when opioids are no longer helping patients or causing them harm, so deprescribing can play an important role.

10 Jun 2026

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Atorvastatin was most dispensed medicine in England in 2025-26

The statin is the most dispensed medicine since 2016-17, while 78 million items were dispensed in 2025-26.

04 Jun 2026

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Lib Dem MP alleges some chains redirect patients to independents for loss-making drugs

Andrew George alleged some chains were falsely telling patients “those medicines are unavailable” but did not name any chains.

03 Jun 2026

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We should target legislation to stop dispensing at a loss

If an MP, say Sadik Al-Hassan, introduced a Private Members’ Bill, that might shake things up, says ICP editor Neil Trainis.

27 May 2026

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Labour warns pharmacies will break the law if they refuse to dispense loss-making drugs

The Department of Health and Social Care told ICP that dispensing at a loss was “not a valid reason for refusing to dispense".

22 May 2026

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Marie Curie urges pharmacies in Northern Ireland to sign up to Daffodil Standards

The standards aim to improve the care pharmacies provide for patients approaching the end of their lives and the bereaved.

21 May 2026

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NPA and IPA assess pharmacies’ legal position if they stop dispensing loss-making drugs

NPA chairman Olivier Picard said it was uncertain if pharmacies would lose their NHS contracts.

20 May 2026

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NPA chair presses JCVI for urgent meningitis vaccine clarity after student's death

Olivier Picard urged the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to say if teenagers and young adults will be vaccinated.

15 May 2026

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Facing challenges by innovating for patients

Pharmacists who embrace private services know they are commercially beneficial and professionally rewarding, says Mandeep Mudhar.

13 May 2026

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