2025-10-24 10:09:51
The pharmacy press have repeated reported in recent months on issues relating to pharmacies trading as “Jhoots”. The issues have included branch closures and unpaid and underpaid staff. The matter was raised in Parliament recently, and the Pharmacy Minister, Stephen Kinnock, is reported by the Pharmaceutical Journal to have said that he had asked health officials “to explore whether we can strengthen the regulatory framework to be able to deal more quickly with pharmacies that do not play by the rules”. A week later, according to the PJ, the Prime Minister said in Parliament on 22 October 2025: “Officials are currently reviewing whether the integrated care boards and General Pharmaceutical Council need additional powers to address pharmacy businesses that do not play by the rules … that could include powers for the council to go after business owners in addition to the pharmacy professionals.”