Delivery: The key to navigating pharmacy deserts in 2025

R&D
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Pharmacy closures are accelerating fast.

Pharmacy numbers dropped from 11,522 in 2022 to 11,414 in 2023, and a further 436 closed this year in 2024. As numbers dwindle, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that more communities are going to be grappling with limited access to essential medications in the next year ahead.

These closures are creating ‘pharmacy deserts,’ areas where the ratio of people to pharmacies has reached near critical levels.

Indeed, data from Gophr’s ‘Prescription for Pressure’ initiative revealed the stark reality: in the South East, over 6,000 people rely on a single pharmacy, London residents average just over 5,000 people per pharmacy, and those in the South West and the Midlands also follow closely behind with just under 5,000 people per pharmacy, according to the latest regional data.
And the numbers are only rising each year.

This growing demand on fewer pharmacies poses a serious challenge for patients and healthcare providers alike. It’s not just about longer queues; it’s about access to life-saving medications in a timely and reliable manner.

The issue is further compounded by an aging population – nearly 20% of people in England and Wales are over 65 – and the expanded responsibilities of pharmacists, from prescribing common medications to conducting routine health checks.

Not a mirage: Delivery can provide the helping hands

To address these challenges, pharmacies must look beyond traditional models to innovative solutions. Pharmacy delivery services are no longer just a convenience they are becoming a necessity for vulnerable patients who are often unable to visit their local pharmacy in person to pick up essential medication or no longer have one close enough. Distance-selling pharmacies, already gaining momentum, will play an even larger role in 2025.

Reliable delivery services will be the backbone of these operations, enabling pharmacies to serve wider and more dispersed customer bases who, through no fault of their own, find themselves stranded in one of these ‘deserts’.

Delivery services can act as a lifeline for patients stranded in pharmacy deserts, ensuring they receive their medications without the stress of long journeys or inaccessible healthcare facilities in a timely manner. However, this isn’t just about moving parcels; it’s about creating a seamless and secure experience that mirrors the care patients expect from their local pharmacy.

Delivering more than just medication

A big part of that local pharmacy experience is trust, security, reliability, and convenience, which have become standard expectations for patients – not just speed and efficiency. For the most vulnerable patients, such as the elderly or those with chronic conditions, delivery can be transformative in receiving medication without overcoming travel constraints.
However, this isn’t about dropping a package on the doorstep, ringing the doorbell, and then jetting off; it requires an element of human touch and personalisation. Delivery drivers need to uphold the same standards of care and security as pharmacists themselves.

For many patients, as pharmacy delivery becomes more of the norm, it could represent one of the very few social interactions they experience during the week. Delivery drivers and the customer are going to see one another, perhaps even repeatedly with regular prescriptions. This means customer expectations for friendliness, professionalism, and consistency will quickly rise as delivery becomes a more integral part of the pharmacy experience.

Growth opportunities for the sector

Pharmacies investing in robust delivery procedures will not only help meet customer expectations, but also position themselves for growth. As rising operational costs force pharmacies to explore new revenue streams, introducing delivery fees may become necessary. However, charging for delivery comes with higher customer expectations.

Just as customers now expect real-time tracking for food deliveries, pharmacies must ensure their prescription services are equally seamless and reliable. The key to charging additional fees is providing additional services, and offering patients – often some of the most vulnerable – options that make their lives as easy as possible. This makes a strong case for these added costs, though high standards will obviously need to be maintained consistently.

In addition, the increasing costs of delivery will present a persistent challenge for all parties, so rethinking pricing structures could be the key to sustaining these services at the highest possible standard. For instance, tiered pricing for different delivery speeds could make same-day prescription services more accessible and sustainable.

Pharmacy deserts aren’t going away, but delivery services present a real opportunity to bridge the gap between patients and their essential medications. For pharmacies, this is a chance not just to survive, but to thrive, redefining their role in healthcare through innovation, trust, and adaptability. With the right investments and a focus on patient-centric solutions, pharmacy delivery could transform from a convenience into a cornerstone of care in 2025.

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Graham Smith
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