Alliance Boots executive calls for greater recognition of pharmacy

Alliance Boots' outgoing health and beauty chief executive Alex Gourlay has urged the UK government to recognise the full value of the pharmacy sector.

Speaking to Chemist and Druggist, the business leader said he is confident in the future of pharmacies, but noted that those in the profession need to work together and harness patient support to get the acknowledgement they deserve.

According to Mr Gourlay, there is more work to be done on the pharmacy contract, but it has moved in the right direction over the last few years.

He said: "Pharmacists are so much more patient-focused and clinically-focused, and our responsibility is to keep developing the contract to look after patients with the knowledge we have."

This comes shortly after it was announced that Mr Gourlay will be leaving Alliance Boots in October 2013 to take up the role of executive vice-president at Walgreens.

His move is part of a wider strategic partnership between Alliance Boots and Walgreens, one of the biggest pharmacy chains in the US.