Our policy and advocacy work
As a trusted voice for pharmacy, the Royal College of Pharmacy engages with policymakers to help shape the future of healthcare services across England, Wales and Scotland.
Shaping policy across Great Britain
Through our policy and advocacy work, we ensure pharmacy is represented at the highest levels of decision-making and across Great Britain and within each nation. With health policy devolved across the UK, our work operates at both GB level through our teams in England, Scotland and Wales.
We engage with legislators at Westminster, Holyrood and the Senedd, as well as civil servants, regulators, healthcare system leaders and civil society organisations. Our work is evidence-led and informed by the expertise and experience of our members and expert groups.
As health is a devolved matter the College works in each nation to support the development of policy, to enhance practice, and to support safe and effective pharmacy practice for the benefit of patients and the public.
Elected National Pharmacy Advisory Councils in Scotland, England and Wales work with the College national teams to develop pharmacy policy and practice, support professional development activity and engage with members. National teams facilitate member engagement and include policy and public affairs specialists who gather evidence through a variety of methods including insight through member outreach, events, visits and stakeholder liaison in each nation.
Influencing priorities for pharmacy and patient care
As the pharmacy landscape evolves, we promote the crucial role of pharmacy in healthcare and advocate for the support that pharmacists and the wider pharmacy team need to meet changing demands across the healthcare system. This includes raising issues such as workforce development, digital and AI, and women’s health, alongside wider system pressures such as medicines shortages.
Across a wide range of policy areas, we strengthen understanding of the role of pharmacy in patient care and ensure our members’ expertise and perspectives inform policy across GB and in each nation. This supports care quality and patient safety across the healthcare system.
We provide expert insight on the major changes shaping medicines use and healthcare, and advocate for the role of pharmacy in evolving models of care, ensuring pharmacy expertise is reflected in national decision-making.
Supporting patients and communities
Our work recognises that the experience of care varies across regions and communities. We engage with stakeholders and bodies in each nation to support access to high-quality services, including in remote and rural areas across Scotland, Wales and England.
Members play an important role in shaping our policy and advocacy priorities and the issues affecting pharmacy practice and patient care across Great Britain, ensuring our work reflects real experiences on the ground. Members also contribute through regional engagement and by supporting priority policy areas through National Pharmacy Advisory Councils and expert groups.
Through our policy and advocacy work, we ensure pharmacy plays an influential role in shaping health care services, advancing care quality and improving the safety and experience of patients and the public.
Further information
Find out more about our policy and advocacy work in England, Scotland and Wales, and explore our governance.