Alliance Healthcare: Pharmacies must move beyond generics focus

Alliance Healthcare has called on the UK pharmacy sector to diversify its business model beyond generic medicines if it is to continue being a successful industry in future.

The company's managing director Jeremy Main told Chemist and Druggist that the falling cost of generics under the category M tariff – and the resulting squeeze on profit levels – means that pharmacies will need to look at the bigger picture to survive.

As such, chains should examine the wider role they can play in delivering healthcare services at a lower cost than GPs, while also helping to keep patients out of hospitals.

Mr Main cited weight management and obesity programmes as examples of services pharmacies can offer either through the NHS or privately.

He added: "They are not going to be surviving by only buying generics in five years' time. What pharmacy needs to do is see its place in the big holistic picture of the future."

Alliance Healthcare's Boots brand launched an in-store asthma support programme last month and is also considering the introduction of local chemotherapy services.