Minister says pharmacy professionals are at the heart of health and care transformation at RCPharm’s Welsh conference
Published: 25 September 2026
Pharmacy teams are playing a central role in improving access to care, preventing illness and helping build a more sustainable NHS, the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care told the Royal College of Pharmacy’s (RCPharm) annual Welsh conference in Cardiff today.
In a keynote message to delegates, Mr Mabon ap Gwynfor praised the vital contribution of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to patient care, describing pharmacy as being “at the heart” of the Welsh Government’s priorities to deliver improvement for health and care.
The Minister highlighted pharmacy’s growing role in improving access to care, supporting prevention, tackling inequalities and strengthening services closer to home. ”Few professions are as closely aligned to this government’s ambitions for health and care as pharmacy”, he said.
His speech recognised the increasingly clinical role pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are playing across community pharmacy, general practice and hospital services, including the growing impact of pharmacist prescribers in helping people access care more quickly and closer to home.
He described pharmacy as one of the most accessible clinical services available to people across Wales. “For many people, their local pharmacy is the front door to healthcare. It is local, it is trusted and increasingly, it provides clinical services that help people receive care closer to home.”
The Minister praised pharmacy’s contribution to Wales’ prevention agenda and improving cancer outcomes, talking about the role of pharmacy teams in public health interventions, treatment support and helping patients throughout their care journey.
He said: “As we continue to develop our preventative health agenda, I believe there is significant opportunity to build even further on that contribution.”
RCPharm’s Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales 2026 conference brings together pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from across Wales to share best practice and discuss progress towards improving health outcomes for patients via the vision for pharmacy in Wales to 2030.
Geraldine McCaffrey, Director for Wales at the Royal College of Pharmacy said:
“Today’s speech was a powerful endorsement of the vital role pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider pharmacy teams play in delivering care for people across Wales. It is encouraging to hear the Welsh government recognises both the contribution pharmacy teams make and the impact they have in improving access to care, supporting prevention and helping people stay healthier for longer.
“Across community pharmacy, general practice and hospitals, pharmacy teams are taking on increasingly clinical roles, helping patients get expert care closer to home when they need it. It’s clear that pharmacy is closely aligned to the priorities of the government and to the needs of patients in Wales. Pharmacy teams, as part of wider multidisciplinary teams, will be central to further realising ambitions to improve health and care.
“We look forward to working with the government and partners across the NHS to build on this progress, develop consistent pharmacy services in every part of Wales and ensure the workforce, infrastructure and investment are in place to deliver lasting benefits for patients and communities.”
Nearly 200 delegates and exhibitors attended the conference at The Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff.
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