On 19th March 2025 Medway’s Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed concerns raised by Councillor Anang regarding pharmacy provision in Rainham
Cllr Anang opened the item by stating the importance of pharmacies in the community and the negative impacts felt due to the loss of two pharmacies in Rainham, a reduced number of particularly elderly residents are unable to get specialist medication advice and advice on minor illnesses. It was also evidenced that pressure on GP’s has grown following the closure of two pharmacies in Rainham.
Members of the Conservative Group challenged representatives from NHS Kent and Medway who noted that no gaps in service provision were identified following a Pharmacy Needs Assessment which took place in 2022 when there were three active pharmacies in Rainham.
Moving forward there will be a further meeting in the form of a roundtable discussion regarding the lack of pharmacies in Rainham with the view of opening at least one more pharmacy.
