The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has said that pharmacists should increase their efforts to prevent disease and that the profession should transition to providing a wellness-based service rather than an illness-based one.

RPS president Ash Soni said that due to shortages of doctors and nurses, pharmacy is well placed to enhance its role in promoting health and wellbeing.

He said: “Everybody, everywhere – globally – says that pharmacy is underutilised. It is an opportunity that is being missed – the challenge is working out how we pay for it.”