Northern Ireland’s pharmacy network remained at 508 in the first half of 2026, unchanged from 2025, according to Christie & Co’s Pharmacy Market Review 2026. The figure is three below the 511 pharmacies recorded in 2024.
The stable count contrasts with a modest rise across the UK. Christie & Co reports that the total number of pharmacies reached 13,779, an increase of 47 and the first overall growth in more than five years. It is a positive signal for the wider network, although the number of pharmacies alone cannot show how individual businesses are coping.
The review’s UK-wide survey reveals continued concern about the sector’s direction. More than half of respondents, 52%, reported a negative outlook for 2026/27, up from 48% in the previous survey. Rising energy and staff costs were cited as a challenge by 91%, while 88% pointed to medicine supply issues. The survey does not provide a separate Northern Ireland breakdown, so these figures should be read as a wider sector snapshot.
Financial benchmarks offer a more positive measure. Among pharmacies appraised by Christie & Co, average EBITDA margin increased from 9.2% in 2025 to 11.5% in the first half of 2026. That improvement does not describe every pharmacy, but it shows that some of the businesses in the firm’s data have seen stronger performance.
The review also highlights opportunities for service development. Across the UK-wide survey, 68% of respondents reported increased demand for private services and 52% identified weight-loss medication as an area of growth. Digital development was seen as a future opportunity by 62%, while 41% were considering additional consultation rooms.
For Northern Ireland, the headline is one of stability rather than expansion. The longer-term test will be whether its 508 pharmacies have the capacity and support to meet changing patient demand while managing the costs and supply pressures identified throughout the review.