Ethnicity
With 48.1% of pharmacists identifying as Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME), ethnicity is important for the pharmacy profession.
Ethnicity is one of the areas in our inclusion and diversity survey where people thought more support was needed for the profession. We’ve committed to changing attitudes around race and ethnicity in pharmacy, and removing any barriers to career progression.
Race advocacy
“As a student pharmacist, it has been liberating to see race advocacy work at the forefront of our profession. I hope that the changes and work I see early on in my career continues to develop.”
– Viven Yu, pharmacist
Challenges to address
We recognise that there’s a significant lack of racial diversity at senior levels in pharmacy. This isn’t fair, and it’s a waste of talent.
We want to understand and challenge this situation. We want to foster positive change to create a culture of belonging in the profession, and ensure how we work is fair.
Breaking the barriers
- Martin Eguridu, primary care network pharmacist, explains some of the barriers for black pharmacists.
- Chief Pharmacist Raliat Onatade considers how to engage the next generation of black pharmacists.
Identifying the problems
Fitness to practice
We are committed to working with you and engaging with the GPhC to champion a fairer FtP process, addressing inequality and unconscious bias and greater support for pharmacists subject to discrimination or abuse.
Differential attainment gap
White students are statistically more likely to receive a higher-class university degree within the UK higher education system, compared with students from ethnic minorities. At the Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm), we’re committed to tackling the awarding and attainment gaps that disadvantage Black pharmacy students and trainees.
Our report, Chasing equality in pharmacy training – closing the awarding and attainment gap for Black trainees in pharmacy, highlights the scale of the issue and calls for urgent action.
Learn more about the changes needed and how we’re working with partners to eliminate these disparities by 2030 here.
Ensuring fairness and equality in FtP processes for BAME
“Fitness to Practice fairness and equality due to the over-representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic pharmacists in FtP cases. There needs to be a fair FtP process, addressing inequality and unconscious bias.”
ABCD Group
What you can do
Together, we can tackle racial inequality in our pharmacy workplaces. As a pharmacist, here are some actions you can take, and some resources to help you understand racial inequality.
Zero tolerance for microaggressions
Microaggressions are the everyday, subtle, intentional — but often unintentional — interactions or behaviours that communicate bias based on ethnicity.
We’ve put together a page about ethnicity-related microaggressions – including how to challenge them if you encounter them, and how positive micro-affirmations can make all the difference to workplace culture. You can also watch our racial microaggressions workshop, presented by Dr Joan Myers OBE.
Empower yourself
Watch Bayo Adegbite, Tase Oputu, and Lola Dabiri in their conversation with RCPharm’s Head of Professional Belonging Amandeep Doll as they share their perspectives on the significance of representation, its impact on their personal and professional lives, and why it matters for a brighter, more inclusive future.
Building allyship
Allyship is where individuals come together to build a relationship of trust to gain a better understanding of a marginalised individual or group and their experiences.
Download our free poster on ethnicity-related microaggressions for your workplace.
Opportunities to celebrate
- Black History Month: Join us in celebrating Black History Month, recognising and celebrating the invaluable contributions of black people to British society and, for us in particular, pharmacy.
- South Asian Heritage Month: We celebrate South Asian Heritage Month across July and August each year to recognise the diverse traditions, cultures and contributions of South Asian communities within the pharmacy profession. As part of South Asian Heritage Month 2026, we hosted Many Threads, One Fabric on 29 July, bringing together members, partners and colleagues to celebrate the rich diversity, cultures and lived experiences of South Asian communities in pharmacy.
- East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month: Throughout September, we celebrate East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month, recognising the rich cultures, histories and contributions of East and Southeast Asian communities within the pharmacy profession. This year’s theme, Evolving Threads, is about honouring the ways in which our stories, actions and solidarities are continuously woven together across time, place and community.
What we’re doing
At our Action in Belonging, Culture and Diversity (ABCD) meetings – the forum where you talk with us about inclusion and diversity – you’ve raised key issues you want us to champion.
Some of the things we’re doing involve publishing our gender and ethnicity pay gaps reports and action plans and reviewing our National Board elections campaign and communication plans to ensure they are more inclusive. We encourage candidates to stand for elections from all backgrounds and areas of practice.
Inclusion and diversity blogs
Many RCPharm members have written about their experiences in promoting and fighting for Inclusion and Diversity in pharmacy.
To discover their stories and learn about how their experiences, background and culture have shaped who they are today, browse through our collection below.
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Flexible working – why is it so hard to arrange?
Flexible working is a barrier for many pharmacists, especially those with long‑term conditions. Amandeep Doll looks at how supportive, equitable flexibility is essential for inclusion.
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Living with hearing loss: a hidden disability
What does a person with disabilities look like? Aamer Safdar reflects on his diagnosis of hearing loss.