THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia has released its Community Pharmacy 2025 Framework for Change document outlining the progress in planning for the morphing of community pharmacies into "community health hubs".
The development of the evolving pharmacy builds on "a core expertise in medicines and facilitates the provision of an array of essential, cost-effective health products and services to an empowered and informed patient and consumer".
The Guild says its vision for CP2025 is to serve the needs and preferences of patients and consumers through a vibrant, dynamic and commercial community pharmacy network.
The advancing model "will embrace an innovative, service and care-oriented business model which is commercially resilient and builds upon the opportunities provided by technological advancement and the inherently trusted role of community pharmacies in Australia's health system."
While the core business of community pharmacy will be based on traditional medicines supply through PBS and private medicine purchases, the focus will expand more into medication advice, management and safety, reflecting the unique skills of pharmacists as medicines experts, the Framework for Change says.
Extensive market research drove the development of themes for the plans with the proviso that "the proposed growth pathways align with patient needs and expectations".
Nine growth pathways have been identified and amplified: health services including medication management, preventative health screening and chronic disease support; as the community health hub pharmacy will enable other health professionals to fulfil their roles as well; digital enablement will integrate digital health into practice; business operations will require modification of back office efficiencies; in-home care to support patients at home; collaboration and partnerships are to involve partnering with other health providers, pharma companies, researchers and government; automation aims to reduce manual processes; leverage brand aligns patient offerings with the pharmacy branding; review products to leverage distribution networks supporting pathways.
Guild National President George Tambassis and Executive Director David Quilty thanked participating stakeholders for their engagement, signing off on the document jointly.
Access from today - guild.org.au.
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