EMPOWERING pharmacists to do more in rural and remote areas could be key to attracting young members of the profession out of the cities, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, believes.
Addressing the topic of the Future of Pharmacy in 2023 at the PSA national conference last week, Freeman said opportunities for greater professional satisfaction could lure pharmacists to rural practice.
"Attacting pharmacists to rural and regional areas is complex," he said.
"It's not just about funding, because if you look at the rates of pay for pharmacists in rural and regional areas compared to metropolitan areas, it's often much higher... so it's not the rate of pay that will attract people.
"I think one way is to enhance the role of the pharmacist in rural and remote areas, because there's a need for it.
"There are patients who are not being seen by the GP, because there's no capacity to do so.
"Therefore we have to empower pharmacists in those areas to be able to do more and to be recognised and rewarded for it.
"If we're talking about pharmacist prescribing, that is exactly the area where we should have pharmacists prescribing in community pharmacies, becuase there is a lack of access to it there."
Freeman said such services could provide opportunities for greater professional satisfaction and could help attract pharmacists to practice outside of the major cities.
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