Insight Online – September 2025 | The Pharmacists' Defence Association

In this issue:

PDA reflects on FIP Congress 2025: a global platform for pharmacy progress
PDA releases improved membership renewal process
PDA calls on all pharmacists to complete a Workplace Wellbeing & Culture Survey
PDA and Pharmacist Support Walk for Wellbeing
‘Medicines To’ campaign recognised at 2025 C&D Awards
Pharmacy reimagined: Leading the change, together
Ministers must make good on NHS pay-talk promises
Latest news
PDA Education upcoming sessions
Will you be joining us at the Pharmacy Show 2025?
Save on cinema tickets with PDA Plus
Are your details up-to-date?

PDA reflects on FIP Congress 2025: a global platform for pharmacy progress

To mark World Pharmacists Day, we reflect on our active involvement in the 83rd FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, held in Copenhagen from 31 August to 3 September 2025.This global event brought together over 3,400 pharmacy professionals from nearly 100 countries to explore the future of pharmacy and its role in transforming health systems worldwide.

Since joining FIP in 2022, we have contributed to international policy development in areas such as self-care, common ailment management, and pharmacy-based vaccination programmes. A key milestone has been the global adoption of the PDA’s award-winning Medicines To initiative, now supported across all FIP regions and endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

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PDA releases improved membership renewal process

As part of our continuous support for pharmacists, we have launched a newly improved membership renewal process. This will make it easier for existing members to continue their membership of the PDA and receive the associated benefits.

Improved renewal processRenewing PDA membership has never been simpler! With our new and improved renewal platform, members can enjoy a seamless experience from start to finish. If there are no changes to an existing PDA member’s membership category and indemnity requirements, they can renew in just a few clicks, saving time and effort.

Flexible payment option

We understand that financial flexibility matters. That’s why we have introduced easier payment options to support members. You can pay online quickly with your credit/debit card or spread the cost with the monthly instalments option.

Go green with paperless membership

You can now choose to receive your membership documents digitally or by post. Going paperless will help us reduce waste, cut our eco footprint, and contribute to a more sustainable world.

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PDA calls on all pharmacists to complete a Workplace Wellbeing & Culture Survey

We are inviting pharmacists and trainees to complete a wellbeing survey that will gauge their experiences in the workplace and identify what support is required.

This is part of our Workforce Wellbeing Strategy that was launched earlier this year to enhance the mental health, financial resilience, and overall wellbeing of pharmacists across the UK.It is clear to us that pharmacists need more than the legal support that we provide when something has already gone wrong. This is why, since 2017, each year, we donate £1 per member to Pharmacist Support, the profession’s charity. These donations now exceed £300k.

Earlier this year, we committed to doing even more with the introduction of a 5-year Workforce Wellbeing Strategy. The initiative will provide pharmacists with access to wellbeing resources, peer support networks, mental health training, financial resilience guidance, and engagement activities aimed at strengthening the workforce.

Our approach is responsive and aims to address findings as they arise and tackle obstacles with proactive solutions. We are committed to periodic reviews, using data and industry insights to assess its progress and adapt to emerging challenges.

The Workplace Wellbeing & Culture Survey will help us to identify the more immediate obstacles that need to be prioritised.

Pharmacists and trainees can complete the survey here. This survey will close on 12 October 2025.

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PDA and Pharmacist Support Walk for Wellbeing

PDA staff are proud to be walking side by side with staff at Pharmacist Support on 7 October to launch the very first Walk for Wellbeing — tackling loneliness one step at a time.

Our charity partner, Pharmacist Support provides free and confidential mental health and wellbeing services for pharmacists, trainees, and students.

The campaign responds to stark findings from the 2024 Workforce Wellbeing Survey, which revealed that:

70% of pharmacy professionals feel lonely or isolated often or very often
35% reported poor or very poor mental health
87% were at high risk of burnout

By walking together, we want to spark connection, raise awareness, and fund the support services pharmacists rely on when facing tough times.

We have been a long-standing supporter of Pharmacist Support – through funding, advocacy, and collaboration. Walking together demonstrates our shared commitment to protect the wellbeing of the profession.

Support us as we walk side by side to show that no one in our pharmacy family is alone.

Donate here

Find out more about the campaign and register your own walk here

‘Medicines To’ campaign recognised at 2025 C&D Awards

Earlier this month, our ‘Medicines To’ campaign was recognised as Healthcare Innovation of the Year at the C&D Awards.

The ‘Medicines To’ campaign raises the public’s awareness of pharmacists’ vital skills in humanitarian work and raises funds for regions of the world impacted by crises.

We were delighted to receive the award on 11 September 2025 at a gathering in Central London to celebrate the best of community pharmacy. PDA Chairman, Mark Koziol was presented with the award by celebrity presenter and British criminal barrister, “judge” Rob Rinder MBE and Peter Kelly from the Healthcare Innovation of the Year category sponsor, Sandoz.

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Pharmacy reimagined: Leading the change, together

In the latest PDA blog, Director of Pharmacy Jay Badenhorst discusses the many ways the pharmacy sector is changing.

He also outlines how pharmacists can show up, support others and work together to advocate for change.

“As Director of Pharmacy, I’ve had the privilege of seeing our profession evolve in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I first started out. But what excites me most isn’t just the innovation or the policy shifts, it’s the people. It’s you. The students, trainees, and early career pharmacists who are stepping into a profession that’s more dynamic, more diverse, and more essential than ever before….”

Learn more

Ministers must make good on NHS pay-talk promises

Health unions are calling on the government to get on with promised direct talks to get NHS wage structures right and deliver pay awards on time.

The PDA and the other 13 unions representing staff on ‘Agenda for Change’ contracts within the NHS have written jointly to health secretary Wes Streeting urging him to honour a commitment made last year to tackle problems in the pay system that are harming staffing and morale.

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Below is a list of the other key news stories that have been published on our website this month:

22/09/25 – PDA Ability Network invites nominations for the upcoming 2025 elections
21/09/25 – PDA BAME Network comments on flag displays linked to the ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign
20/09/25 – PDA LGBT+ Network marches at Manchester Pride 2025
16/09/25 – NAWP invites pharmacists to take part in Wear it Pink 2025
11/09/25 – PDA BAME Network comments on NHS pay disparity review
10/09/25 – Are you fit to sit the November 2025 assessment?
09/09/25 – PDA reminds members about the risks associated with prolonged steroid use
04/09/25 – Adam Somerville elected as the 3rd President of the PDA LGBT+ Network
01/09/25 – Challenges faced by trainee pharmacists: A closer look at recent experiences

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PDA Education upcoming sessions

PDA members are invited to sign up for a range of free online courses and workshops. Below you can find the latest activities, training opportunities and support available.

Revision programme for those sitting the November 2025 assessment

This free programme is designed to support members revising for the GPhC assessment on 11 November 2025. The revision programme is ‘self-directed’ and the practice questions and mock exams can be completed multiple times.

Please note, this programme is only available to PDA members who are eligible to sit the assessment.

Learn more

PDA Emerging Leaders Programme

This free member-exclusive programme is open to a limited number of students, trainees and early-career pharmacists (those within the first five years after registration).
The programme runs from 7 October 2025 to 31 March 2026.

There are four modules in total.

Modules 1 & 2 (8 October – 31 December 2025)
This represents approximately 3 hours of online events and a maximum of 6 – 8 hours of online self-directed learning.

Modules 3 & 4 (20 January – 31 March 2026)
This represents approximately 2.5 hours of online events and a maximum of 6 – 8 hours of online self-directed learning.

Learn more

Locum Matters This online will take place on Tuesday 28 October 2025. It will cover all the positives and pitfalls of being a locum, including:

Your income
Registering for work
Top tips for booking a shift
Your rights as a locum.

You will also be able to register for our online Locum resource hub once you have attended the event, which has more information about working as a locum.

Learn more

CV Writing and Interview Skills

This self-directed online training course aims to help members feel more confident when applying and interviewing for new jobs and positions.

Learn more

Reps Online Induction

This online training course is for new PDA Workplace Reps, regional or equality committee members and NEC members. This course should be completed as soon as possible by all PDA activists.

Learn more

Will you be joining us at the Pharmacy Show 2025?

There are just over 2 weeks until the Pharmacy Show returns to the NEC in Birmingham (12 – 13 October).

We are proud to once again support the two-day conference. This year, we will deliver a session on workforce wellbeing and will speak at a number of panel sessions at the show. Learn more about our various activities here.

There is still time to secure your FREE ticket!

The Pharmacy show is FREE to all UK registered healthcare professionals meaning that PDA members can secure their ticket for the show for FREE! Pharmacists are encouraged to click below to register for their pass today.

Save on cinema tickets with PDA Plus

As a PDA member, you can take advantage of exclusive PDA Plus offers and discounts. This month, save on your next cinema trip with the Cinema Society.

Around 500 cinemas participate in the offer and what’s more, you can take advantage of the discount as often as you like! The discount level varies depending on location, cinema and peak/off-peak showings.

So whether you are watching a horror movie for Halloween or prefer a family-friendly animation, there will always be a movie for you to see for less. Simply buy vouchers through the PDA Plus site (you have to register first – but it is free) and exchange them for tickets at the cinema.

Learn more by logging into your PDA Plus account today.

Are your details up-to-date?

We support the needs of individual pharmacists and pharmacy students and, when necessary, defend their reputation.

Therefore, it is crucial that we hold your correct details on file to ensure that you stay supported and do not miss out on important information relating to your membership.

Please take a few minutes to check and, if necessary, update your details on our website. If you have more than one employer, please ensure you list each of them.

UPDATE YOUR DETAILS TODAY

Insight Online – September 2025