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The public in Wales believe the dispensing of prescription medicines is the most important role community pharmacies carry out, a survey conducted by YouGov has shown.

Forty-four per cent of 1,220 adults who took part in the online survey, commissioned by Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW), said dispensing was the most important service provided by pharmacies.

That was more than twice as many as the 17 per cent of people who placed greatest importance on pharmacies providing advice. CPW said around 10 per cent of respondents identified “all other services” as most important. 

CPW also said the survey showed “dispensing remains central to how people use community pharmacies”, with eight in 10 respondents using dispensing services and/or knowing someone who has in the last 12 months.

Fifty-nine per cent said they “typically obtain their prescribed medicines” from a pharmacy while 77 per cent were aware dispensing services are provided by pharmacies.

“This poll shows clearly that dispensing medicines remains the service that matters most to the public,” CPW said. “It is not only the most important service by a significant margin, but also one of the most widely used and recognised.

“While community pharmacies provide a growing range of clinical services, these findings reflect the reality that the safe and reliable supply of medicines continues to be the foundation of what patients value and depend on.”

The survey was carried out between January 5-12, 2026.