OTC medicines: It’s time for pharmacies to lead the self-care movement

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can empower customers and pave the way for a sustainable healthcare future. By embracing OTC products, pharmacies can achieve greater freedom, stability, and enhanced profitability. In our exclusive interview with Anna Maxwell, founder and CEO of pioneering consumer healthcare company Maxwellia, we explore their game-changing pharmacy brands leading the way in self-care. Why pharmacies should embrace OTC medicines? There’s never been a more critical time for pharmacies to lean into the OTC space. Right now, about 90 per cent of pharmacy income in the UK is tied to NHS funding—a model that’s increasingly unsustainable.[1] We all value the NHS, but it simply can’t afford to cover every treatment at the point of use indefinitely. If pharmacies could achieve even a modest shift in NHS reliance this would mean more freedom, stability, and profitability for the business. OTC medicines are the key to making that happen, offering a way to quickly provide, effective treatments that help customers while reducing the administrative and financial burdens on pharmacists.