Specialist Haemoglobinopathies Pharmacists: Advancing Equitable Care for Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia
A powerful new feature in The Pharmaceutical Journal is shining a spotlight on a group of healthcare professionals who are quietly transforming the lives of people living with haemoglobinopathies - inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia.
For too long, patients from global majority communities have faced deep-rooted inequalities in care, resulting from underinvestment, racial bias, and limited specialist training. But that story is beginning to change.
Enter the haemoglobinopathy specialist pharmacists - a growing network of experts who are redefining what good care looks like. Working across both community and hospital settings, these pharmacists are improving medication use, providing essential education on medicines, supporting patients to stay on track with treatments such as hydroxycarbamide and iron chelation therapies, and ensuring that care is truly centred around each individual’s needs.
Their impact is already being amplified through new NHS investment, and the group is now working towards establishing a red cell pharmacist network to share knowledge, innovation, and best practice.
Released during Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the article also serves as a call to pharmacy professionals everywhere: now is the time to deepen understanding of haemoglobinopathies and take part in national training initiatives like the Sickle Cell Disorder National Education Programme.
The message is clear - sustained investment in specialist education and training is not just desirable, but essential. By empowering pharmacists to lead in this space, the profession can help close long-standing health gaps and ensure equitable, high-quality care to those who need it most.
