Numark has announced its 250th member has joined in Northern Ireland, meaning nearly half of Northern Irish pharmacies are now members of the virtual chain.

The total UK membership is 2,620 with a market share in Northern Ireland of 49 per cent of total pharmacies and 68 per cent of the independent market of five pharmacies or less.

Numark's managing director John D'Arcy said he was delighted with the rate at which the company was gaining members.

"Hitting the 250 milestone in Northern Ireland is indicative of our growth in the province which emulates the trend in the rest of the UK. I am delighted more and more pharmacists are choosing Numark as their ‘one stop' solution", he said.