In this candid and compelling episode of Behind the Counter: Pharmacy and Beyond, host Solomon Abuede sits down with Tohidul Islam, pharmacist, whistleblower, and founder of The Pharmacist Cooperative (TPC), to discuss the hidden challenges and opportunities facing both locum pharmacists and pharmacy owners.

From battling unfair work conditions and threats, to challenging complacency in pharmacy hiring and marketing, Tohidul delivers hard-hitting insights. We unpack:

• The tension between locum pharmacists and contractors
• Why underpaying your team could be killing your business growth
• The business cost (and return) of better pay and respect
• How pharmacies can market private services ethically and profitably

Whether you’re a pharmacy contractor, independent locum, or pharmacy graduate, this episode will challenge your assumptions and empower you to drive change.

Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!

Got a pharmacy challenge? DM @_BTCPodcast. Your question might be next episode’s discussion starter!

#podcast #healthcareleadership #pharmacypodcast #communitypharmacy #shorts #independentpharmacy

Is pharmacy still a sustainable business in 2025? What does the new NHS contract mean for independent contractors, and how can we survive, adapt, and thrive?

In this powerful guest episode of Behind the Counter: Pharmacy and Beyond, host Solomon Abuede is joined by Ashley Cohen, a seasoned pharmacy contractor and board member of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and Chair of Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire (CPWY). Together, they unpack the real impact of the new contract, what independent pharmacies must do to stay competitive, and the evolving role of pharmacies in UK healthcare.

Expect honest conversation, hard-won lessons, and practical insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

In this episode:

• Ashley’s journey as a multi-branch pharmacy owner
• What the new NHS contract means for independents
• How to future-proof your pharmacy business
• The growing importance of clinical services & prescribing
• Advice for new and seasoned contractors alike

This episode is a must-listen for pharmacy professionals, owners, and anyone curious about the future of the sector.

👉 Subscribe, share, and follow @_BTCPodcast on all platforms.

In Part 2 of our deep dive into The Pharmacy Numbers Game, we go beyond the NHS contract and get real about what’s actually draining your pharmacy’s profit, and how to stop it.

This episode covers the full breakdown of the silent margin killers hiding in plain sight, from unpaid deliveries to the hidden cost of NOMAD trays, under-claimed services, and rising staff costs.

Pharmacy isn’t broken, but you need to play smart. In this raw and practical episode, I share personal insights, practical fixes, and lessons learned after 14 years of pharmacy ownership.

If you’re tired of working harder and earning less… this one is for you.

🎧 Hit follow, subscribe, and share, and if you haven’t heard Part 1, go back and listen now!