Allied Pharmacies Ltd has taken over an additional 68 Jhoots pharmacies in addition to the 61 acquired earlier this year, representing a total addition of 129 outlets to the Allied Pharmacies network.
The company said it is focused on bringing these pharmacies back to full operational capacity as quickly as possible, while also acknowledging the ‘commitment and resilience’ of former Jhoots employees.
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‘We want to assure them that they will receive the same consideration and care as those supported during the earlier acquisition of pharmacies this year,’ Allied Pharmacies added.
This expansion comes at a difficult time for the pharmacy sector, which continues to face structural and financial challenges.
Allied Pharmacies said: ‘We are committed to playing a stabilising role by investing in sustainable models of care. By consolidating resources and expertise, Allied Pharmacies has ensured that it is well positioned to deliver reliable, high-quality pharmaceutical services across the country and to reinforce our connection with the communities we serve.’
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The takeover follows reports of Jhoots branches – owned by Sarbjit Jhooty and Nilam Patel – closing, not paying their employees for months, and forcing patients to travel long distances for essential medication.
This issue has highlighted a gap when it comes to regulating pharmacy business owners, primary care minister Stephen Kinnock said.
Government officials are exploring, as a matter of urgency, whether they can ‘strengthen the regulatory framework to be able to deal more quickly with pharmacies that do not play by the rules’.
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Last month, the owner of 21 former Jhoots Pharmacies, Manjit Jhooty, announced an immediate rebrand of his store portfolio following ‘significant and irreparable damage’ to the brand name.
The stores will be renamed JHL Pharmacy, with the new strapline ‘Just Helping Lives’.
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