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Private clinics in Europe and further afield sometimes find that a medicine their patients need is easier to obtain from the UK, whether because of local availability, timing or patient preference. Doing this properly requires a clear, compliant process. Why clinics look to the UK The UK has a well-regulated wholesale market with strong traceability. Some products or presentations are more readily available in the UK. Patients who have previously been treated in the UK may wa

The World Health Organization has had a busy autumn. Here is a short guide to some of the most significant announcements and why they matter for the wider healthcare sector. Child and adolescent obesity guidelines In early October 2026, WHO issued its first global guidelines on child and adolescent obesity. Obesity in young people is rising in many countries, and the guidelines give health systems a common framework for prevention and treatment. Hypertension in pregnancy WHO

Germany and Italy have two of the largest private healthcare markets in Europe, with active sectors in aesthetics, weight management, fertility and specialist outpatient care. For clinics in both countries, cross-border sourcing can be a practical way to secure products their patients need. The German market German clinics operate within a tightly regulated system. Pharmacies play a central role in supplying prescription medicines, and imports are governed by detailed rules o

The UK is a respected source of medicines worldwide, thanks to its strong regulator and well-controlled supply chain. Exporting medicines, however, involves more than packing a parcel. Here are the basics every overseas buyer and UK exporter should understand. The UK side The exporter must hold an appropriate wholesale dealer's licence from the MHRA. Each product must be checked against the Department of Health and Social Care list of medicines that cannot be exported or hoar

Private healthcare across the Gulf and the wider Middle East has expanded rapidly, supported by investment in new hospitals, specialist clinics and medical tourism. With growth comes demand for reliable international supply of medicines and medical products. What is driving demand Large investment programmes in healthcare infrastructure. Growing populations and rising rates of chronic disease. Strong demand for aesthetics, wellness and specialist services. Patients who travel

For many private clinics, the consultation is only part of the patient journey. Patients also need their treatment, and when the clinic cannot help with that step, the patient goes elsewhere. A managed medicine supply service can keep that journey, and that revenue, inside the clinic. The opportunity Patients value a single point of contact for consultation and treatment. Clinics can earn a margin on each supply rather than referring the patient away. A smooth supply experien

Most people never think about where the active ingredient in their tablet was made. But that question sits at the heart of today's medicine shortages. A February 2026 House of Lords report found that most active pharmaceutical ingredients used in NHS medicines are sourced from China, India or other single sources. Why production became concentrated Over several decades, manufacturing of active ingredients and generic medicines moved to countries with lower costs and large-sca

The European Union is completing the biggest overhaul of its medicines legislation in around two decades. The European Parliament and the Council reached political agreement on the reform in December 2025, and the adopted acts are expected to enter into force during 2026, with the new rules applying in stages from 2026 to 2028. What the reform aims to do Make medicines more available and affordable across all EU member states, not just the largest markets. Strengthen the secu

Alongside its wider pharmaceutical reform, the European Union has been developing a Critical Medicines Act, aimed at protecting the supply of the medicines patients depend on most. UK pharmacy leaders have been watching closely. The idea behind the Act The Act is designed to reduce Europe's dependence on a small number of overseas suppliers for essential medicines, encourage manufacturing within Europe, and use joint procurement and other tools to strengthen supply. The UK pe

On 2 April 2026, the US President signed a proclamation imposing tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imported patented pharmaceuticals and their key ingredients. It is one of the most significant interventions in medicines trade in decades, and its effects reach well beyond the United States. How the tariffs work A 100 per cent tariff applies to covered patented medicines and ingredients. For 17 large companies named in the proclamation, the tariffs took effect on 31 July 2026;

Medicine shortages have become a daily reality for UK pharmacy teams. In June 2026 the National Pharmacy Association and the Royal College of GPs warned that current shortages are among the most severe the UK has experienced, and that some now rank as the longest-running shortages of individual medicines in NHS history. The scale of the problem A National Pharmacy Association survey in June 2026 found that almost all responding pharmacies saw a serious risk to patient safety,

Remote consultations and online pharmacies have made healthcare far more convenient. They have also given regulators new concerns, particularly where powerful medicines are prescribed on the basis of an online questionnaire alone. The regulator's view The General Pharmaceutical Council expects online pharmacies to have enough information to be sure that a prescription is clinically appropriate. In 2026, it published an analysis of inspections that identified unsafe practice a

One of the most significant parts of the 2026/27 community pharmacy settlement in England is the introduction of NHS-funded independent prescribing in community pharmacy. From autumn 2026, pharmacist prescribers will be able to treat more conditions directly, rather than referring patients back to a GP. What is changing Independent prescribing is being added as an extension of Pharmacy First and the Pharmacy Contraception Service. The Department of Health and Social Care has

Private healthcare in the UK has expanded well beyond hospitals. Aesthetics clinics, weight-management services, men's and women's health clinics, travel clinics and private GP services have all grown, often supported by digital booking and remote consultations. Why private clinics are growing Patients want faster access than NHS waiting times allow. New treatments have created demand for specialist services. Digital tools make it easier for small clinics to reach patients ac

In May 2026, Community Pharmacy England agreed the funding settlement for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework in England for 2026/27. It is the biggest annual increase the sector has seen for some time, but most owners agree it does not solve the underlying funding gap. The headline numbers Total funding rises by around 10.3 per cent, an extra £340 million, taking the budget to roughly £3.64 billion. The retained medicines margin increases by £200 million to £1.1 bil

GLP-1 medicines have transformed the weight-management market. Estimates suggest close to two million adults in Britain are now using weight-loss medication, and an oral GLP-1 tablet was approved by the MHRA for the first time in 2026. For providers, the regulatory picture has become just as important as the clinical one. Advertising rules UK law prohibits advertising prescription-only medicines to the public. The MHRA regularly publishes lists of online providers that have a

To protect UK patients during supply difficulties, the Department of Health and Social Care keeps a list of medicines that must not be exported from the UK or hoarded. Every wholesaler that trades internationally needs to know it well. What the list does The list was first published in October 2019. It names specific medicines that UK wholesalers must not export, or hoard, because they are needed for UK patients. As of March 2026, it included 31 medicines. Products are added

Pharmacy teams are being asked to do more with less: more clinical services, more patients and more shortage management, without a matching increase in staff. Digital tools are becoming essential to make that possible. Patient medication records A modern PMR system does far more than label printing. It can track stock levels, flag interactions, manage repeat prescriptions and give owners the data they need to purchase intelligently. Automation in the dispensary Hub-and-spoke

Running a community pharmacy in England is a balancing act. Much of a pharmacy's income depends on fees for NHS services and on the margin it earns by buying medicines below the price at which the NHS reimburses them. How margin works The NHS reimburses pharmacies for the medicines they dispense at set prices. If a pharmacy buys a medicine for less than the reimbursement price, the difference is retained margin. The government sets the total amount of margin the sector should

When a medicine is in serious short supply, the government can issue a Serious Shortage Protocol, or SSP. It allows community pharmacists in the UK to supply an alternative to the prescribed item, in line with the protocol, without going back to the prescriber. How SSPs work Each SSP is specific to a product and sets out exactly what can be supplied instead, such as a different strength, formulation or quantity. Protocols are time-limited, and they are extended, amended or wi