In this Q&A blog post, Christie & Co’s director of pharmacy, Jonathan Board, caught up with Sagar Lungiwala following his purchase of Brighton Hill Pharmacy in Basingstoke

In March 2021, Sagar Lungiwala purchased Brighton Hill Pharmacy – a standard-hours community pharmacy located in a busy retail park close to the medical centre in the Hampshire town of Basingstoke.

The business was previously under corporate ownership.

One year on, Jonathan Board, director of pharmacy at Christie & Co, spoke with Lungiwala about how he is getting on

Q. What were you doing before buying your business?
A. I was pharmacist manager with Lloyds Pharmacy for six years and did interim locum work.
I have always managed busy branches with pharmacy items ranging from 10,000 to 18,000.

Q. What made you want to own a pharmacy?
A. I always wanted to own a business and it was just a matter of time.
I was successfully managing multiple Lloyds Pharmacy branches during my six years with them and I was able to fix the struggling branches by implementing the dispensing process which gave me the confidence to buy my pharmacy.

Q. How have you found your first year of ownership?
A. It has been challenging but, at the same time, fruitful in the long run.
I had to learn the whole new game of owning a pharmacy business and I had to figure out how to deal with banks/finance, solicitors, accountants, NHS teams, and selling agents.
Throughout the process, I had to ensure things were done on time, and effectively communicate with different teams.

Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
A. My biggest challenge was a significant drop in items after I took over.
There was a drop of 30% in pharmacy items after the change of ownership, so the first two quarters were challenging from a financial perspective.
For almost a whole year, I was working six days a week with no holidays, but things steadily improved and were helped when a local corporate pharmacy closed.
It is pleasing to know my hard work paid off, and I’m now looking for another opportunity.

Q. What are the key changes you have implemented so far?
A. The biggest change has been the implementation of my style of dispensing process, the Patient Medication Record (PMR) system, Titan, to make it more efficient.
Along with NHS-funded services, we have also introduced the COVID vaccine (NHS and private), travel vaccine, weight loss clinic, Yellow Fever vaccine, and ear wax removal.

Q. What are your plans for the business?
A. I would like to introduce more private services – for example, blood tests – and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to deliver additional services.

Q. Do you have any tips for those entering the sector and buying their first pharmacy?
A.
• Implement PMR, Titan
• Use an ordering system like Drug Comparison from day one
• Seek a pharmacy with growth opportunities in the area