THE 2017 UTS Pharmacy Barometer has reached the highest confidence level in the measure's six-year history, reflecting gains in employee pharmacist remuneration and optimism that pharmacies will increase in value.
UTS' Professor Charlie Benrimoj detailed an optimism and confidence score for 2017 of 96.4 out of 200 (where a score of 100 represents a neutral level of confidence) - an improvement of 5% on the 2016 confidence level.
Overall, pharmacists' pay rose over the last year with a greater proportion moving from $30-40 per hour pay category (63% in 2016 versus 74% in 2017) to $40-50 (27% in 2017 versus 20% in 2016).
Optimism also grew around the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement with increased opportunities to provide broader services such as vaccinations, blood pressure measures, smoking cessation guidance and weight management, Benrimoj said.
"Many have realised that service provision is imperative for future viability" with a whopping 56% of pharmacists identifying professional services as the greatest opportunity over the next three years.
More than 65% of pharmacists said they had started to implement new professional services in 2017.
One of the greatest challenges to community pharmacies was the burgeoning online retail pharmacy channel, identified by 50% of pharmacists as having a potentially negative impact.
Biosimilars business was highlighted as a high profit opportunity, while using MedASSIST as a tool for identifying opioid addicts represented a positive for 54% of respondents.
Around 17% of pharmacists also indicated they were valuing collaboration with their local Primary Health Networks.
Visit uts.edu.au for the Barometer.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 18 Dec 17
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 18 Dec 17
