Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc non-executive director Hatul Shah said the community pharmacy was "no longer asking for permission to be at the table.
"I truly believe we've earned our place. From the delivery of pharmacy first, to the expansion of clinical services, to the role pharmacies now play in urgent care and prevention, we have moved from transactional supply to trusted clinical access. And the numbers are proving it."
He made these remarks while opening the Sigma's UK conference recently in London.
Shah, however, said there's still work to do, and "we are not yet where we need to be".
"Many of you are still managing impossible margins. Capacity is stretched, recruitment is fragile, and investment, while finally improving, is not stable. We know what pharmacy is capable of, but unless we can act with discipline, direction, and one voice, capability will remain potential, not power."
Recalling his trip to Japan, he said, "The moment you step off the plane. What struck me was not just the efficiency or the elegance or the care they have. It was a collective mindset.
"There is a cultural instinct to support and not compete. To move together and not be alone. And to respect the role each person plays in the service of something larger than themselves.
"That, to me, must be our call to action. We don't need to become Japanese, but we do need to become more aligned. To stop pulling in different directions, and instead present one united front to the government, to NHS leaders, and to the public.
He said divided messages dilute the community pharmacy's case. "But when pharmacy speaks clearly, with shared goals and a single agenda, our influence grows."
Shah said he was happy to see a social media post by Olivier Picard from the NPA, where he was part of a cohort with the CCA and IPA meeting the pharmacy ministers a few days ago.
"Let's hold government to its promises, but let's hold ourselves to account. Let's demand sustained investment, but also deliver continued excellence.
"Let's insist on being heard, and also commit to speaking with unity. And let's honour our legacy, but also have the courage to adapt, transform and lead."
Starmer's message
He later welcomed Matthew Turmaine, Labour MP for Watford, who read out a message from prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
In his letter, Starmer said, "This Government recognises the incredible impact of the services provided by pharmacy teams and the vital role you play in communities across the country. That is why we have placed community pharmacy at the heart of our ambition for a Neighbourhood Health Service, as set out in Fit for the Future: The 10-Year Health Plan for England."
Starmer also thanked pharmacists for their continued dedication to providing valuable services to patients and said he looked forward to working together to deliver the 10-Year Plan.
Turmaine said the government was taking community pharmacy seriously and reiterated what Keir Starmer wrote in his letter – that community pharmacists are at the ‘heart of local healthcare’ and on the ‘frontline’ of ensuring medicine safety.
He said the government’s ambition now, after a ‘decade of underfunding and neglect’, is to make better use of pharmacists’ skillsets to deliver more services for patients within their local communities.
Turmaine said when Starmer and Reeves took over in 2024, they inherited a country where the economy and public services were in a very dire situation.
He described this as a 'very unusual situation', and it defines the context in which the government is trying to operate.
"Desperately needing to get productivity and growth back into the economy so that we can properly reform public services."
He said that under the new government, some progress has been made.
"There are two million extra appointments that have been delivered. They're now averaging five million a month."
Turmaine said that across the country NHS waiting lists are down by 200,000, and 100 community diagnostic centres are operating 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.
"There are 2,000 more GPs who have been recruited. And 1,000 GP practices have had improvement work done to them."
The MP said the current government is very keen to consult the public regarding health and the NHS, and he had run a number of consultation events in Wartford.
"This has been an invaluable experience in hearing what the public think about the state of the service at the moment." And
Turmaine said it needs to be fed directly into the development of the NHS 10 year plan.
"And of course the importance of the 3 pillars. Hospital to community, animal to digital and treatment to prevention."
He also played the message from care minister Stephen Kinnock, who wished them well.
"Stephen did want to be here to address you directly in person. As today is Remembrance Sunday, I'm sure lots of you are aware. All MPs will be in their constituencies attending events commemorating the service."
