Shaping the Agenda

The launch of Pharmacy2U pioneered internet pharmacy in the UK and introduced a new way for people to access medicines and personal care products.

The new concept fitted well with the government’s aim of modernising the NHS and improving access to healthcare. Since then Pharmacy2U has continued to influence changes in the market in line with the government’s agenda.

In 2000 it helped to persuade the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain to amend its code of ethics to allow for internet and mail order pharmacy.

In 2001 it was selected to lead a two-year NHS pilot project for the electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP). The experience gave it invaluable technical and operational expertise which it used to develop its own unique services and capability. In 2005 Pharmacy2U was one of the first pharmacies to be awarded an NHS mail order contract.

The success of the ETP pilot project encouraged the government to include the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) within the world’s largest civil IT project under the Connecting for Health programme. EPS connects doctors and pharmacists and will significantly change pharmacy practices in the UK.

In conjunction with Pharmacy2U’s unique capabilities, EPS will allow all patients who visit their GP to have their prescription delivered automatically to their home. Pharmacy2U will be able to manage prescriptions from request to delivery, providing patients with unique benefits such as the ability to request repeat prescriptions electronically.