NEW Pharmacy Board of Australia registration data shows a decline in the number of pharmacists holding professional registration for the first time in five years.
The figures for the Jun quarter revealed that total registration dipped by 2.5% to 35,368, while the number of pharmacists holding general registration fell by more than 1,000 (3.1%), to 32,709, the biggest fall on record.
The decrease in general registration numbers in Jun was seen across all jurisdictions and age groups, with the exception of the 40 to 45 years bracket, which increased by six, compared to the Mar figures.
Provisional registration numbers also fell in the three months to 30 Jun, with the ACT and the Northern Territory the only jurisdictions to report increases in this category.
Despite losing 432 women, the Board's registration data found that female pharmacists account for 63.7% - up 0.4% - with 482 men dropping out of the profession in the last quarter.
In addition to falling numbers of registration holders, the pharmacist workforce has also been impacted by an increase in the number of people holding non-practising registration - 1,338, a 13% jump compared with the Mar figures, and just 16 shy of the record high of 1,354 set in Dec 2019.
Meanwhile 642 pharmacists were on the COVID-19 pandemic response sub-register at the end of Jun, down from 1,888 at the end of Mar.
Recent figures released by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) revealed the sub-register has shrunk to include 1,792 health professionals following last week's cut off for practitioners to opt-in to remain on the register.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 30 Sep 22
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