Medicine Box Ltd, a pharmaceutical wholesaler based in Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, has entered liquidation after receiving a £40 million government contract to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic. The company's winding-up order was issued on 13th May 2026, according to official records.
The firm was awarded a £40 million contract by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in April 2020 to supply four million protective coveralls to healthcare workers at a cost of £10 per item. The contract included a £20 million advance payment upon signing, with the remainder paid upon delivery and inspection.
Medicine Box Ltd claimed it delivered all four million coveralls by 31st May 2020 and received the full £40 million. However, the DHSC declined to confirm whether the contract was subject to an open bidding process. Tenders Electronic Daily reported that only one tender was received for the contract.
In a separate case, Amiry and Gilbride Healthcare Limited (AGH), which operates 13 pharmacies across Scotland under LP North 14 and LP North 15, has also entered administration. The family-owned business, established in 2023, runs two prescription collection units. Administrators have been appointed to the holding company, but the subsidiaries are expected to be sold and continue trading as normal.
