A NEWPORT pharmacy is delighted after winning a national award to recognise its work in the community.

Pill Pharmacy on Commercial Road in Newport was nominated as finalists in two award categories of the Welsh Pharmacy Awards 2015.

The pharmacy owned by Asim Ali, 40, of Cardiff, was a finalist for Business Development Award 2015 and the winner of the Independent Pharmacy Practice Of The Year Award 2015.

“We were delighted to be the winner of the Independent Pharmacy Practice Of The Year 2015 Award,” Mr Ali said.

“Pill Pharmacy has been involved in the regeneration of the Pillgwenlly area and has recently undergone a major redevelopment and refit.

“The residents of Pill have been delighted and proud that their local community pharmacy has won an award out of the whole of Wales."

The pharmacy received the award last month at an award ceremony held at the Mecure Hotel in Cardiff.

Mr Ali, from Cardiff, has been a pharmacist for 18 years, opening the pharmacy 10 years ago.

“I opened up Pill pharmacy in 2005 after working in Bermuda,” he said.

"I was operating the pharmacy until last year at the old address on 33 C Road and now at the new address at 44 Commercial Road."

He funded the redevelopment of the pharmacy, purchasing the building just down from his original premises, to make a larger facility.

The pharmacy, which employs 20 staff, now hope to have an application approved by Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) to become an independent hospital with private doctors working there.

Pill Pharmacy has also introduced new services such as a Travel Clinic in affiliation with Masta Travel, specialising in Vaccines such as Yellow fever and Meningitis Vaccine for those travelling to Hajj and Umra.

“We feel proud to be representing our local community and are delighted with the award and the recognition from our peers,” Mr Ali