IQVIA year-end report: Navigating the evolving UK pharmacy landscape

This year has been another turbulent year for the UK pharmacy sector. The sector continues to undergo significant transformations, driven by evolving
healthcare needs, regulatory shifts, and economic pressures. For pharmacy owners, staying abreast of these trends is crucial to navigating the challenges and
seizing opportunities. IQVIA, a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence, delves into the key
issues, challenges, and developments shaping the sector, drawing insights from the latest industry data and reports, supported with data released by NHS
England (NHSE).

The community pharmacy landscape remains unsettled, with disruptive market dynamics at play. The decline in the number of pharmacies, particularly within the
Managed Chains channel, underscores the volatility of the market. The number of active pharmacy contractors in England has dropped significantly, with more
closures than openings each month, exacerbated by the exit of Lloyds Pharmacy from the UK market which completed at the end of 2023. In the year ending June
2024, there was a net closure of 440 sites within NHSE which equates to a 4% decline in available pharmacies1. The increase in closures from June 2023 was driven
by the closures of Lloyds in Sainsburys and the ongoing divestment of the Boots estate.