Ian Strachan has resigned from the National Pharmacy Association’s board, citing long-held concerns over the organisation’s direction of travel.

Mr Strachan, who served as NPA chair from 2014 to 2018 and remained on the board after stepping down, resigned with immediate effect earlier this week.

The NPA posted the following statement on its website last night: “The NPA can confirm that Ian Strachan resigned from the NPA’s board of directors earlier this week.

“The most important thing is to say that the NPA is, and will remain, grateful for Ian’s long service, especially during his period as chair (2014-2018).

“Everyone knows Ian is a passionate advocate for community pharmacy and he brought this to all his dealings with the NPA.

“The NPA board debates issues fervently but once decisions are made it believes that collective corporate responsibility is vital.

“The NPA won’t be commenting further on this issue or any of the board’s internal processes.”

In a statement issued to Pharmacy Network News earlier today, Mr Strachan said: “It was an honour to serve our members as elected chairman between 2014-2018.

“The campaign of 2015-2017 against pharmacy funding cuts was a halcyon period for the NPA and community pharmacy, in many respects ahead of its time.

“It was a highly collaborative and united period for our sector who rallied behind some powerful shared values. One of the proudest and most fulfilling periods in my life.”

However, Mr Strachan said that in recent years he had found it “increasingly difficult to defend the current board’s position on many policy fronts,” citing the NPA’s approach to representation and emphasis on its insurance offering as particular sticking points. 

“These were the principles behind my decision to leave the NPA board,” he said, adding that he “wishes the organisation every success in the future”.