By Neil Trainis

The pharmacy group Alitam has agreed a deal to merge with a provider of clinical services for patients in pharmacies.

Under the terms of the deal, Alitam will invest an undisclosed seven-figure sum in Pharmadoctor, an agreement the former hopes will help it significantly improve the clinical services it provides across its 100 or so pharmacies in the UK and Ireland.

In turn, Pharmadoctor hopes the merger will allow it to improve how it delivers medical services to 8,000 pharmacies in the UK.

Among the services Pharmadoctor offers includes healthy living, men's health, minor ailments, seasonal health, sexual health, skincare, travel health, vaccinations, women's health and the community pharmacist consultation service.

Alitam founder and CEO Feisal Nahaboo described the deal as a “milestone” and a “turning point in the history of UK pharmacy".

The merger follows the announcement in March of a strategic deal between the two companies that saw Pharmadoctor agree to roll out walk-in GP-type services to patients in Alitam’s branches.

The companies hoped the deal would give patients “fast-track” access to treatment and alleviate the pressure on other parts of the NHS.

Earlier this year, Mr Nahaboo (pictured) unveiled a £1 billion plan to transform 500 pharmacies into state-of-the-art “super pharmacies” and was also reportedly looking to buy another 50-100 pharmacies each year for the next five years in an attempt to reach its ownership target of 500 pharmacies.