Charac, an NHS-integrated, one-stop platform for independent community pharmacies, has today announced it has secured strategic investment from Royal Mail Group, enabling its time-saving platform to assist more local pharmacies and patients across the UK to easily manage their prescriptions and consultations online.

Founded in 2020 by technology entrepreneur Santosh Sahu, Charac’s mission is to help community pharmacies deliver more primary and secondary care. With over 7,200 independent pharmacies unable to offer digital services, the platform simplifies customer access to local pharmacies by allowing them to skip the queue, save time, and access and re-order all their prescriptions online. Also, by providing digital consultations with community pharmacists, pressures on the NHS are alleviated, while addressing threats posed by digital competitors, which could see the closure of pharmacies on the high street.

The £1 million investment will enable Charac and Royal Mail to leverage the strong levels of trust that postal staff and pharmacists enjoy within the communities they serve and will ensure pharmacies remain a cornerstone of vibrant high streets and an invaluable provider of frontline healthcare products and services, including vitally needed consultations. As the UK’s sole designated Universal Service Provider, Royal Mail is at the heart of every community and is trusted to deliver to over 31 million addresses across the UK, at least six days a week. Royal Mail already has a strong presence in the healthcare market, delivering the majority of prescriptions which are ordered online.

Charac has integrated the first of its kind, pharmacy-focused Patient Relationship Management system, approved by NHS and integrated with its electronic prescription services. This platform compliments what pharmacists do in our communities by enabling them to provide an appointment management system where they can have consultations via video or phone, and allow patients to re-order prescriptions via the app. By encouraging customers to access services through the platform, pharmacists free-up time to focus on providing new, revenue generating, higher margin services, to the local communities that they already serve, while reducing dependence on declining, low margin NHS prescriptions.

With over 10,000 patients a week being referred for a booked consultation with a pharmacist following a call to NHS 111 and GPs caring for 2,200 patients each due to staffing shortages (up 10% in five years), there has never been a more crucial time for pharmacists and patients to benefit from relationship-building technology.

Charac’s online consultation-booking facility not only allows customers to avoid frustrating queueing at the pharmacy or GP, but allows the pharmacist to better manage their time and resources. A video consultation facility helps to both categorise patient needs while providing a more comfortable environment in which to deal with intimate symptoms. Once registered with Charac, customers will be able to manage existing repeat prescriptions, message their pharmacist, schedule future activities, such as annual flu vaccinations, and browse the various services on offer from their pharmacy – all from the comfort of home and on their preferred device.

Charac aims to sign up over 1,000 UK pharmacies in the next 12 months by expanding its geographic footprint beyond current cities, including London, Manchester and Birmingham, and targeting small multiple and independent pharmacies, accounting for almost 40% of the UK’s pharmacies.

The announcement also sees the addition of Stefan Kulik, managing director for Royal Mail’s Health division, to the Charac board. Stefan is responsible for leading Royal Mail’s expansion into the healthcare industry and brings a breadth of experience, having worked in healthcare, with companies including Johnson & Johnson.

Commenting on the investment, Santosh Sahu, Founder, Charac said: “The pandemic has outlined the necessity of community healthcare and the power of digital delivery. In the UK today, it is estimated that just 3% of all prescriptions are ordered digitally, with most UK pharmacies still lacking the ability to digitise their services. This places undue pressure on the wider NHS and prevents an estimated 18 million GP consultations being transferred to community pharmacists, who are equipped to manage many health conditions that would typically be associated with GP care. Today’s investment will help local pharmacies across the UK adapt, survive and thrive by arming them with the necessary technology to exist in our houses as well as on our high street.”

Stefan Kulik, Managing Director of Royal Mail Health, and Board Member, Charac added: “This is an exciting time to be working alongside Charac to enable pharmacies to provide patients and consumers with greater access to prescriptions and appointments through their local healthcare professionals. At Royal Mail, we know the importance of being able to guarantee the reliable and safe delivery of medicines to ensure patients get the healthcare they need at the right time.”