Month: October 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit many pharmacies and the sector as a whole hard. Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, Chairman of Morningside Pharmaceuticals, takes a look at their often unrecognised contribution and the role they will play in the nation’s eventual recovery from Covid-19 and a possible no-deal Brexit.   

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic pharmacists were on the front line, ensuring patients were able to get the medicines they needed, as the country went into full lockdown.

As a key manufacturer and supplier of medicines to the NHS, pharmacies and hospitals, my business felt the huge pressure the sector was under, as patients were prescribed several months’ supply of their medication around March and April.

The significantly increased demand came at a time when we were only able to have 50% of employees onsite and 50% working remotely due to social distancing measures, which thanks to our dedicated and hard-working employees led to minimal interruption to supply. Disruption, which looks set to impact the sector further, as more local lockdowns are enforced and the second wave of Covid-19 becomes more sustained.

For many pharmacists the same was true and it’s quite clear that they were one of many unsung heroes of the lockdown period. However, after the initial surge in demand, it is also clear that many community pharmacists have faced hugely challenging times because they were legally obliged to remain open, as people shunned towns and cities, even after the initial lockdown restrictions were lifted.

This has led to calls for more funding for the sector because many face the real prospect of closure. This despite the great debt which the country owes them, as well as other healthcare workers, for helping us all whether the initial Covid-19 storm.

As a key supplier to pharmacies we are all too aware that pharmacists are on the front line and continue to play an essential role, and have been extremely adaptable to the many process and social distancing changes Covid-19 has brought about.

I have worked in the Pharmaceuticals Sector for almost 30 years and have experienced many ups and downs. The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the most serious crises the UK has ever faced, and one that the sector as a whole will have to get through by coming together.

A priority for us all is patient safety and ensuring patients receive their often life-saving medicine. This is why we do what we do, because we can make a difference and save lives. All for the public benefit.

But there is no magic wand that is going to resolve the situation quickly and even the arrival of the first vaccines may not provide the reassurance that many hope for, particularly as their effectiveness and the timings around their testing and mass production are still unclear.

Coupled with this is the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the end of the Transition Period and the potential for the UK to leave the EU without a deal on January 1st 2021.

For the sector to survive and thrive we must all plan ahead and adapt to the new reality. Community pharmacists have already begun this journey by being very adaptable and innovative, such as establishing delivery services to ensure the elderly and vulnerable receive the medicine they need, as well as embracing video technology for consultations with shielding patients.

As a supplier to pharmacies we are making big efforts to prepare for a potential severe second wave of Covid-19 this winter as well as for a ‘No Deal’ situation, such as adapting our supply chains and ensuring we are acting upon the importing and exporting advice from the Government’s UK Transition website. Another high priority for us is to work with the Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC) to ensure we are able to continue to supply our patients.

What is clear is that once all of these challenges are over, and they will eventually be over, community pharmacies will still be essential to people’s everyday lives, good health and wellbeing.

I strongly believe that pharmacies and the whole Pharma Sector have a major role to play in the nation’s recovery, and I hope once we get past the current pandemic and political changes, that the nation recognises community pharmacists, NHS, social and care workers, as the unsung heroes they truly are.

Medicines manufacturer and supplier Morningside Pharmaceuticals has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman to oversee the company’s governance.

The Executive team and Group Board will be responsible for enhancing internal and external systems and processes, as well as delivering the business’ ambitious growth plans for the future.

As part of the structure changes the company’s Founder and Chief Executive for almost 30 years, Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, has taken on a key strategic role for the business and become Chairman of the Board.

Tim Brady, who has extensive experience of leading Business Development and Sales & Marketing in the pharmaceuticals’ sector, has become the business’ new CEO. Tim joins newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) Monica Huang and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Cliff Fung, as leader of the company’s Executive team.

Morningside’s Chairman of the Board Dr Nik Kotecha OBE said: “Morningside was founded in the 1990s through an entrepreneur’s dream of making quality healthcare an affordable and accessible reality throughout the world.

“Since then we have grown from a garage start-up to one of the Midlands’ leading life sciences businesses. None of this would have been possible without our excellent people, past and present, who have made Morningside the highly successful business it is today.

“The appointment of the Executive team is a key part of our strategic plans for continuing to grow Morningside into the future. For my part, I am very much looking forward to becoming Chairman of the Board which will play a key strategic role in guiding the business’ strategy, alongside the new Executive team.

“My passion is entrepreneurship and helping businesses grow through investing in innovation, Research & Development and exporting to international markets. To help support these core areas I will continue to take on senior regional and national advisory roles. I am also immensely proud to have founded the Randal Charitable Foundation in 2017, which has an unwavering vision to save lives, help the socially disadvantaged and significantly improve the quality of life for those in need in the UK and around the world. My focus will continue to be Morningside as well as supporting these key business, community and philanthropic endeavours.”

“I would very much like to welcome Tim to Morningside, who will take the helm during this exciting new chapter in our company’s history.”

Morningside’s growth plans include launching new niche generic medicines from its Research & Development (R&D) pipeline, registering products in international territories and further growing our branded and generic medicines portfolio and market share in the UK.

The business is a leading manufacturer and supplier of quality generic and branded medicines to the United Kingdom and export markets, which includes twice daily deliveries to the NHS, hospitals and pharmacies in the UK; and supplying vital medicines and healthcare products to charities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and International Aid Agencies world-wide.

Introducing Tim Brady

Tim Brady joins Morningside as the business’ new Chief Executive. He has over 30 years’ experience of working in senior roles in the pharmaceuticals sector. His career has led to him building a successful pharma business from the ground up, to being a country and European executive for global life sciences businesses. More recently Tim has taken on a number of senior directorships, specialising in the areas of Business Development, Sales & Marketing, as well as International Sales.

Mr Brady, said: “Morningside is built on very solid foundations and is set for an even faster period of growth. The Leadership Team at Morningside is the best in the industry; they have proven that over the past 30 years and the challenge now is to get even better at what we do.

“All the people at Morningside are fully engaged, motivated, knowledgeable and excited about the future and this will be a hugely important advantage for us as we continue to build our reputation as a key supplier to the NHS and international markets.

“Morningside has always had an enviable product pipeline, which is going to produce some important new products in the coming months and years. An even sharper focus on speed to market for these products and stronger relations with our customers and supply chain, will mean patients and doctors will have greater choice of medicines, more quickly.”

Tim Brady started his new role at the beginning of September 2020.