Stephen Kinnock vows to unlock sector's ‘untapped potential’ at Pharmacy Business Awards

Wole Ososami from Westbury Chemist has been awarded Pharmacy Business of the Year. Find out who the other winners are ...

Pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock vowed to put community pharmacists “right at the heart” of plans to transform the NHS as he paid tribute to the sector at the annual Pharmacy Business Awards on Wednesday (2).

The showpiece awards of the pharmacy calendar recognised and celebrated the very best of community pharmacies and the critical role they play in the healthcare system.

Business leaders from the pharma industry, healthcare executives and leading politicians were amongst the 650 guests that attended the event held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in central London.

Among the politicians in attendance were the newly elected trio of Sadik Al-Hassan, who is a community pharmacist, Kanishka Narayan and Dr Zubir Ahmed.

The Labour MP for Brent West, Barry Gardiner helped present the top award, the Pharmacy Business of the Year.

In his keynote speech, Kinnock, who is responsible for primary care in his role as minister of state at the department of health and social care, said that in his short time in the role, he had already seen just how much patients rely the services of community pharmacies and the lengths that pharmacists go to deliver care to their communities.

“For far too long, governments have failed to recognise the essential role that community pharmacies play in safeguarding the nation's health, particularly in areas of our country where there's depravation,” said Kinnock.

“This government recognises that pharmacies can and should play an even greater part in providing healthcare on the high street and this is going to be a top priority for us if we're going to deliver our government mission, not just in terms of health but also in terms of economic growth and opportunity, because a healthy society and workforce are preconditioned for prosperity and growth.

“There's a huge amount of untapped potential in this group, and government is committed to ensuring that you can put your skills and your knowledge to maximum benefit, not least because by doing so, we take pressure off our local healthcare systems.”

Kinnock added that coming to an agreement over a new pharmacy funding contract was a “top priority” for the government.

“I have heard from Community Pharmacy England about the increasing difficulty the sector faces in raising finances for their businesses and the lengths the contractors have felt forced to go to keep their businesses open to continue to serve the patients who rely on them,” he said.

“Our mission as a government is to get our health and care system back on its feet and fit for the future. But this is a national mission that can only be achieved in partnership with you, with every person in this room.

“I look forward to hearing from and working with pharmacists from across the country as we progress our plans to embrace the skills, knowledge, and expertise of your dynamic and forward-thinking profession,” he said.

Hosted by the Asian Media Group (AMG), publishers of Pharmacy Business, and Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat news weeklies, the Pharmacy Business Awards have for 24 years championed the innovative work and dedication of community pharmacists.

Shailesh Solanki, the executive editor of Pharmacy Business, urged the government to listen to the findings of Lord Darzi’s recent report into the NHS in which he said there is huge potential for a step change in the clinical role of pharmacists within the NHS.

“The stark reality is that community pharmacy is in a perilous state with record numbers of pharmacies closing over the last few years,” warned Solanki.

“The current pharmacy contract is not fit for purpose. A collapse in the pharmacy network would have a calamitous effect on the nation’s healthcare and deepen health inequalities that exist in our society.”

Solanki stressed that community pharmacy has huge potential to help alleviate the country’s health challenges and can be part of the primary care solution, but this can only be achieved through a fair funding model.

“The new Government has a unique opportunity to transform healthcare in our country by ensuring community pharmacy receives the funding it deserves and desperately needs,” he added.

“An ambitious funding settlement can truly harness the unrivalled accessibility of the sector.”

Shailesh Solanki, the executive editor of Pharmacy Business

Prior to announcement of the award winners, Shyaamal Solanki spoke of the work of the charity, Pharmacist Support, with money being raised through a silent auction and other activities during the evening.

There were a total of 17 community pharmacy awards and five product and manufacturers awards handed out at the event.

Among the winners was, Wole Ososami of Westbury Chemist, Streatham collected the Pharmacy Business of the Year Award.

Wole Ososami of Westbury Chemist, Streatham wins the Pharmacy Business of the Year Award

Ososami was described as exceptional pharmacist operating at the heart of his local community, catering to all their healthcare needs. Open until midnight, 365 days a year, the judges said the pharmacy is truly a health and well-being hub, accessible to patients at all times.

The pharmacy’s large dispensary and five consultation rooms work round the clock ensuring the best patient care is delivered efficiently and with personalised care.

Ososami has embraced the latest technology, fully automating the dispensing process and has also developed an app to communicate with the public, where patients can upload e-scripts.

Yasmin Karsan of The Digital Clinical Safety Company received the Pharmacy Business Inspiring Woman of the Year Award.

Judges said Karsan was a real powerhouse of innovation, who has also developed an “Introduction to AI” workshop and course to support pharmacy professionals navigating AI and its uses within pharmacy.

Her deep commitment to addressing health inequalities, focusing on the most vulnerable populations and low levels of health literacy led Karsan to developed clear content for social media to support patients and help to bridge the “health gap”.

In addition, as a clinical safety officer she has developed digital health solutions with health tech companies, accessible to all regardless of socioeconomic status and ethnicity.

The Pharmacy Business Community Award went to Prakash Patel and A Kashem Rayhan of SAI Pharmacy in Aldgate.

Recognising the barriers their vulnerable community members face in accessing healthcare especially the elderly, ethnic minorities and disabled patients, the duo expanded their services to include BP checks, screenings, immunisations, and consultations.

The Ram Solanki Editor’s Award, in honour of AMG’s founder and editor-in-chief, the late Ramniklal Solanki CBE, went to Michael Holden, who has been a strong advocate for community pharmacy for nearly five decades.

Pharmacy Business Awards in one frame

Full List of Winners

Community Award in association with Sigma Pharmaceuticals

WINNER: Prakash Patel & A Kashem Rayhan, Cordeve Ltd t/a SAI Pharmacy, Aldgate, London

Patient Care in Pharmacy Award in association with AAH Pharmaceuticals

WINNER: Pritee Panchmatia Howletts Pharmacy Ruislip, Middlesex

Pharmacy Technology Award in association with Bestway MedHub

WINNER: Purvee Shah Procare Pharmavy Stanmore, Middlesex

Sustainable Pharmacy of the Year in association with Teva UK

WINNER: Irfan Fazal, Kristal Pharmacy

Pharmacy Team of the Year Award in association with Bristol Laboratories

WINNER: Totty Pharmacy, Greenwich, London

Aspiring Pharmacy Leader of the Year in association with Aspire Pharma

WINNER: Rachna Chhatralia, Day Lewis Group

Pharmacy Development Award in association with Cipla

WINNER: Medihub Pharmacy, Pontarddulais, Swansea

Pharmacy Assistant of the Year in association with Reckitt PharmacyHub

WINNER: Shajeda Islam Nipu, Jaypharm Chemist, London E1

Independent Prescriber of the Year in association with Brown & Burk

WINNER: Robert Townsend, Ashington Way Pharmacy, Westlea, Swindon

Public Health Pharmacist of the Year in association with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals

WINNER Shannon Jones & Ros Williams, Cynon Pharmacy, Abercynon, Wales

Pharmacy Group of the Year in association with Wockhardt

WINNER: Badham Pharmacy, Gloucestershire

Clinical Excellence Award in association with Numark

WINNER: Babatunde Sokoya, TSGK Enterprises Ltd T/A Easter Pharmacy, Buckhurst Hill, Essex

Community Pharmacy Heroes in association with Haleon

WINNER: Zeshan Rehmani, MCR Health Ltd T/A Manchester Pharmacy & Health Clinic, Manchester

Enterprise Award in association with Alliance Healthcare

WINNER: Amarjit Singh, Sharoe Green Pharmacy, Fulwood, Preston

Multiple Pharmacy of the Year in association with Sandoz

Winner Asda Pharmacy, Lower Earley, Earley, Reading

Inspiring Woman of the Year in association with Crescent Pharma

WINNER: Yasmin Karsan, The Digital Clinical Safety Company

Pharmacy Business of the Year

WINNER: Wole Ososami Westbury Chemist, Streatham, London

Pharmacy Business Product & Manufacturer Awards 2024

OTC Brand Impact Award

WINNER: Allevia, Sanofi

Innovation in Generics Award

WINNER: Fludrocortisone, Aspire Pharma

Branded Manufacturer of the Year

WINNER: Haleon

Generic Manufacturer of the Year

WINNER: Teva

Ram Solanki Editor’s Award

WINNER: Michael Holden, Co-Founder, Pharmacy Complete

By Sarwar Alam