Digital pharmacy entrepreneur Tariq Muhammad invested a six-figure sum for a minority share in an app that facilitates communication between pharmacies and patients.

PharmAppy, was started by software engineers Rhys Lloyd and Josh Ablett in a Prestatyn bedroom in 2020 after the schoolfriends’ grandparents struggled to access local pharmacy services.

Mr Muhammad is CEO of Bristol-based Invatech health, whose flagship product is Titan PMR. He first spoke to the pair on LinkedIn and then met them at last year’s Pharmacy Show.

The app is currently used by over 600 patients, and Mr Muhammad’s investment is aimed at scaling it further through a “rich integration” with Titan to extend functionality beyond ordering medicines to booking other services, tracking medication and communicating directly with pharmacists.

Mr Lloyd said: “There’s no one we’d rather have on board than Tariq. With his extensive experience in pharmacy, business and digital technology, we’re excited for the journey and opportunities that lie ahead.

“My father has worked in pharmacy for over 25 years and often talked about how antiquated some of the processes are. Along with the problems my grandparents have experienced, that was a key driver to develop this business.

“Ultimately, PharmAppy will help enable pharmacies to grow – by empowering the pharmacist, allowing them to add services, improve safety and communicate more efficiently with their patients. The digitisation of pharmacy has significant potential benefits for the NHS and private sector, so we’re pleased to be at the cutting edge of those improvements.”

Mr Muhammad said: “This is not the first app that Titan has supported, and it won’t be the last.

“By working so closely with PharmAppy, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the art of the possible when it comes to connecting pharmacies to their patients.” 

“I’m an entrepreneur myself and I’m impressed with what Rhys and Josh have achieved. It’s great to be able to support their efforts and I’m looking forward to working with them more closely.”