MedPal AI [LON:MPAL], the UK-based digital health and artificial intelligence company, has received formal approval from the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the transfer of an NHS Pharmacy Contract previously held by Universal Pharmacy Limited, which had entered administration.
The approval, granted on 4 November 2025, marks the completion of the acquisition of Universal’s assets first announced on 1 October and represents MedPal AI’s first NHS contract.
The transfer gives MedPal’s wholly owned subsidiary, MedPal Limited, the right to operate a Distance Selling Pharmacy (DSP) under NHS regulation, a licence type that the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) stopped issuing in June 2025. The timing makes the acquisition particularly significant for MedPal AI, granting the company a rare entry point into NHS pharmaceutical services and enabling it to dispense medications nationwide.
Jason Drummond, MedPal AI’s chief executive, described the approval as “a significant validation of our operational capabilities” and a milestone that cements the company’s entry into the UK’s regulated healthcare infrastructure.
A hybrid health model
Since its admission to AIM on 26 August 2025, MedPal AI has pursued a dual-platform strategy, combining its AI-powered wellness app with the launch of MedPal.clinic, a regulated digital pharmacy and telehealth service. The company said the model creates a “flywheel” effect, where its app drives user engagement and wellness tracking, while MedPal.clinic fulfils clinical and prescription needs.
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The MedPal AI app aggregates data from more than 100 wearables and health applications to deliver personalised lifestyle recommendations. The platform is designed to transition users smoothly from wellness insights to clinical action, offering prescription medication and follow-up support through its online clinic.
This integrated ecosystem, according to Drummond, “operates 24/7, making healthcare easily accessible and more affordable for everyone,” and positions MedPal AI as a differentiated player in the growing digital health market.
Early trading exceeds expectations
Following the completion of the Universal acquisition, MedPal Limited dispensed 14,757 prescriptions in the ten days following the start of operations, each at least at the current NHS prescription charge of £9.90 per item. The company said this early performance demonstrates strong demand for its automated pharmacy services and validates investment in its advanced robotic dispensing technology.
In addition to its NHS operations, MedPal AI recently launched a private weight loss service through MedPal.clinic, announced on 7 November. The company said initial orders had already exceeded board expectations, reflecting growing consumer appetite for integrated telehealth and medication fulfilment services.
Drummond said the results underline the “market appetite for our AI-enhanced, automated pharmacy model” and added that the company will continue to “scale operations efficiently whilst maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and service quality.”
MedPal AI positioning for digital health growth
The company’s leadership said it believes the convergence of AI, automation and regulatory approval provides a strong platform for long-term expansion. With the UK pharmacy sector under pressure from reduced margins, staff shortages and limited accessibility, MedPal AI aims to capitalise on consumer demand for more convenient, data-driven healthcare solutions.
“The traditional pharmacy model is failing many users on cost, convenience, and accessibility,” Drummond said. “MedPal AI has built an integrated, AI-powered healthcare ecosystem that bridges wellness and clinical care.”
The Armchair Trader view
The combination of NHS-backed services, automated dispensing, and private telehealth offerings places MedPal AI among a small but growing cohort of technology-led health businesses seeking to reshape how patients access care in the post-pandemic era.
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