Pharmacy Daily | Pharmacists under-utilised

THE pharmacist is still an "under-used and highly accessible part of the healthcare system" according to a new Health View report released this month by the National Australia Bank.

The report, prepared by NAB's Perth-based Senior Health Banking Manager - Pharmacy, Michael Gregory, notes the ongoing change in the sector, with many pharmacies moving towards a "health hub model".

However "not every pharmacy will want to follow this path," Gregory said, urging all pharmacists to clarify the role they want their pharmacy to play in the future.

Key trends highlighted for Australian pharmacy in 2019 include more opportunities, with pharmacies having the potential to play a much more significant role in primary healthcare.

Gregory cited regulations enabling many pharmacists to deliver a wider range of vaccinations, along with the possibility of playing a more active role in other aspects of prevention such as screening for certain diseases, risk assessments and point-of-care testing.

"As long as the pharmacy sector can demonstrate that it's delivering evidence-based patient outcomes, I'd expect the government to continue increasing funding for these kinds of services," he said.

The NAB also expects to see more collaboration with other primary healthcare providers, with the My Health Record system facilitating the monitoring of medications prescribed by multiple providers.

Other services such as text or email reminders are also a trend, while data will continue to play an increasingly important role in the business of running a pharmacy, the NAB report says, allowing owners to make more informed decisions and react quickly to things like slow-moving stock.

Gregory also said some pharmacies were already well on the way to providing the kind of community health hub outlined by the Pharmacy Guild in its Community Pharmacy 2025 report.

That is, one that "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," he said.

This week's Pharmacy Guild Forefront highlights the NAB report, noting that Gregory and many of his interstate colleagues at the bank would again be attending APP this year, as they have annually since the bank began participating in the pharmacy sector 12 years ago.