CHARAC PARTNERS WITH PGD SUPPLIER ECG TO ENHANCE PHARMACY PROVISION OF PRIVATE CLINICAL SERVICES

Leading healthcare SaaS provider Charac today announces its partnership with ECG, an accredited training supplier, developing the first end-to-end solution to provide community pharmacies with digital patient group directions (PGDs) covering premises, enhancing their provision of private clinical services.

PGDs provide a legal framework for registered healthcare professionals to supply and administer important prescription-only medications and services, including flu and travel vaccinations and weight loss services.

From June 26, pharmacy technicians across the UK will be added to the list of registered healthcare professionals for PGDs. Having pharmacy technicians to support pharmacists in using PGDs means that community pharmacies can offer an increased number of services to patients in their local communities.

Charac and ECG’s partnership makes them the first service provider to allow all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in a community pharmacy to be covered by a single PGD. They have all the tools to receive PGD training online, read, sign and store PGDs digitally, as well as book and conduct virtual consultations with patients for PGD-enabled private healthcare services, creating an online record of these.

Community pharmacies that utilise digital PGDs will benefit from increased operational efficiencies through Charac and ECG’s integrated end-to-end solution, enhanced access to services, including convenient virtual consultations, and revenue growth. With international travel expected to rebound and surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024, demand for travel healthcare means the average UK community pharmacy is expected to generate £46,800 a year through travel health services alone.

The growing scope of practice for pharmacy technicians follows the Government’s launch of the Pharmacy First service at the end of January, which enables pharmacists to treat minor ailments under the NHS PGDs. Charac’s digitalisation of pharmacy operations will help reduce the workload of pharmacy staff, manage increasing demand for pharmacy services, enhance patient care, and generate revenue.

By offering PGDs, community pharmacies can make preventative care more accessible, convenient, and personalised for local patients, simultaneously alleviating pressure on other healthcare services such as GPs and hospitals. As the NHS waiting list remains at more than 7.5 million, ensuring patients can quickly and easily access first-class healthcare is essential.

More than 20% of UK community pharmacies now use at least one of Charac’s services. To facilitate the delivery of these services, Charac has been backed by key industry players and institutions including the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), AXS-listed MedAdvisor, and Royal Mail.

Charac and ECG’s digital PGD service is expected to launch for community pharmacies at the end of July.

Santosh Sahu, CEO and founder of Charac, said: “Charac’s partnership with ECG is a great milestone in expanding our services to empower community pharmacies. Pharmacy owners will now be able to obtain digital PGDs, fully integrated in our end-to-end solution that includes booking, conducting, and recording consultations online, increasing the efficiency of using PGDs. In addition, pharmacy technicians will also receive PGD training through our service to enhance the provision of safe, high-quality patient care.

“This will also significantly benefit community pharmacies commercially, helping the average community pharmacy generate an expected minimum revenue of £50,000 a year by using PGDs, which provides a crucial revenue stream at a time when each community pharmacy is facing an annual shortfall in funding of around £70,000 each.

“Pharmacies can book a Charac demo now to see the benefits and take advantage of an early bird discount on the service.”

Sophie McCracken, Chief Operating Officer at ECG, said: “Our partnership with Charac marks a pivotal moment for community pharmacies across the UK. By integrating PGDs with Charac's innovative digital platform, we are equipping pharmacies with the tools they need to offer comprehensive and convenient healthcare services. With new legislation allowing pharmacy technicians to use PGDs, patients will now have greater access to vital healthcare services.”