Primary Care - Pharmacy Services

The North Yorkshire Council has finalised the procurement process for a series of primary care pharmacy services. This contract, under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, includes services such as needle exchange and harm reduction, opiate substitute supervised consumption, sexual health services, and a nicotine replacement therapy voucher scheme. The tender, classified under the CPV code for pharmacy services, was carried out using a limited procurement method without prior call for competition.

Contracts have been awarded as of 29 October 2025, and the process was completed with the active status of awards to QA Pharma Ltd and Medwin Pharmacy, located within the UKE region of the United Kingdom. This tender presents significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for those in the healthcare services sector. Given the focus on specialised pharmacy services, businesses experienced in providing needle exchange programmes, opiate substitute distribution, sexual health services, or nicotine replacement therapy would find this procurement especially pertinent.

The awards, governed by a direct award process, began with a focus on quality, centred on patient choice, which may offer additional strategic advantages and differentiation for SMEs capable of meeting these criteria. Moreover, the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) like QA Pharma Ltd and Medwin Pharmacy exemplifies the potential for similarly sized businesses to successfully compete in this procurement landscape.