In this episode of Behind the Counter Pharmacy and Beyond, Solomon Abuede is joined by Gisela Abbam OBE, Chair of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), for a conversation about pharmacy regulation, the changing role of pharmacists, and the future of the profession.
Gisela shares her personal journey into healthcare and global health, what brought her into pharmacy regulation, and her vision for how pharmacy can play a stronger role within the wider healthcare system.
In this episode, we discuss:
• Gisela’s journey from personal healthcare experiences to global health advocacy
• How the GPhC is changing its approach to supporting and listening to the profession
• The future of independent prescribing and the clinical expertise of community pharmacists
• How the GPhC is supporting pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
• Patient safety and the growing problem of fake online pharmacies
• Fitness to practice, equality, diversity and inclusion within pharmacy
• Medicine shortages and the wider pressures facing the profession
• Proposed changes to the registration route for international pharmacists
• The importance of stronger collaboration between pharmacists, doctors and other healthcare professionals
• What the UK gets right about pharmacy and what it could learn from other countries
🎙️ Listen to the full episode of Behind the Counter Pharmacy and Beyond now.

Janet Morrison OBE: Pharmacy Funding, Price Concessions & Opening Hours | CPE Chief Executive

In this episode of Behind The Counter: Pharmacy and Beyond, Solomon Abuede is joined by Janet Morrison OBE, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England, for an insightful discussion on the challenges and opportunities shaping the profession.
Together, they explore the realities behind community pharmacy funding, Drug Tariffs, price concessions, medicine shortages, contract negotiations, and the reforms needed to build a more sustainable future for the sector. Janet also addresses common misconceptions about Community Pharmacy England, explains how the organisation represents pharmacy owners, and shares her perspective on independent prescribing, the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, and the evolving role of community pharmacy within the wider healthcare system.
In this episode:
• Janet Morrison’s leadership journey
• Community Pharmacy England explained
• Pharmacy funding and contract negotiations
• Drug Tariffs and price concessions
• Why pharmacies are dispensing at a loss
• Medicine shortages and supply chain pressures
• Independent prescribing
• The NHS 10-Year Health Plan
• The future of community pharmacy and healthcare leadership

Whether you’re a pharmacy owner, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, healthcare professional, or simply interested in the future of community pharmacy, this episode offers valuable insights into the policies, challenges, and opportunities shaping the profession.
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In this insightful episode, Solomon Abuede sits down with our guest Nicola Goodberry Kenneally, CEO of Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire, to unpack the latest Community Pharmacy Contract announcement and what it really means for pharmacy contractors, pharmacists, and the future of community pharmacy.
Together, they discuss the biggest funding uplift community pharmacy has received within the NHS, the £239 million margin write-off, the introduction of Independent Prescribing within Pharmacy First, and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the profession.
The conversation explores whether the new funding goes far enough, how contractors can adapt to an evolving healthcare landscape, and why innovation, private services, and Independent Prescribing are becoming increasingly important for the future sustainability of community pharmacies.
Key topics covered include:
• The latest Community Pharmacy Contract changes
• What the £239 million margin write-off means for contractors
• Independent Prescribing and Pharmacy First updates
• Why CPWY believes contract reform is essential
• The growing role of private services in pharmacy
• How community pharmacies can remain sustainable and profitable
• Support available from CPWY for pharmacists and contractors
• Career advice for pharmacy students and newly qualified pharmacists
• The future of community pharmacy and the opportunities ahead
Nicola also shares her perspective on leadership, the changing pharmacy landscape, and why she remains optimistic about the future of the profession despite ongoing challenges.
Whether you’re a pharmacy contractor, pharmacist, pharmacy student, or healthcare professional, this episode provides valuable insights into where community pharmacy is heading and how to prepare for the changes ahead.
🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.