A community pharmacist and the chief executive of medicines trade body PAGB have been recognised in the King's New Year Honours list for 2025.

Alan Malcom Kurtz, proprietor and manager of Fishers Chemist in Croydon, South London, was awarded a British Empire Medal (BME) for his services to community pharmacy.

The medal is awarded to recognise 'hands-on' service to the community in a local geographical area.

According to its website, the independent pharmacy was established in 1910 and has been owned by Mr Kurtz for nearly 50 years.

It has more than 30 staff, including six pharmacists and more than a dozen dispensers, and describes itself as having 'one of the busiest dispensaries in the area' and providing 'a large range of services to the local community'.

Another pharmacist, Laura McIver, formerly chief pharmacist for Healthcare Improvement Scotland, was given the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the pharmacy profession and to patient safety.

Meanwhile, chief executive of PAGB Michelle Riddalls has become an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to consumer health.

In a statement, PAGB said Ms Riddalls had been awarded an OBE for her 'outstanding work' as 'the foremost advocate for the over-the-counter (OTC) medicines sector, ensuring availability of OTC medicines and supporting consumer healthcare'.

PAGB added that Ms Riddalls 'diligently supported the government during Brexit' particularly around medicines supply issues in Northern Ireland, and 'ensured continued access to OTC medicines in NI post-Brexit'.

And it said she had supported PAGB members and major retailers to navigate post-Brexit regulatory complexities.

Ms Riddalls also advocated for the publication of national self-care policy – which came about in May 2023 – and for the reestablishment of the Reclassification Alliance, which could see more products being classified as OTC medicines, the PAGB said.

Ms Riddalls said she was 'truly humbled and thrilled' to have been awarded an OBE.

'This recognition is beyond anything I could have imagined receiving for doing a job that I am so passionate about, and I feel deeply honoured,' she said.

'Contributing to the self-care agenda and the role played by increased availability of OTC medicines in self-care gives me a personal sense of satisfaction and benefits consumers, GP practices and community pharmacy as well as the OTC medicines industry,' she added.