THE pharmacy profession needs to shift from its current 'dispensing' mentality to one of community care, according to Professor Lloyd Sansom, who is retiring from the Australian Pharmacy Council after more than 35 years.
Sansom is stepping down having completed the maximum terms allowable, with APC president Debra Rowett reflecting on his "contribution and extraordinary dedication" to overseeing the quality of pharmacy education in Australia as an educator, policy advisor and researcher.
"Lloyd's strategic vision laid the foundation for the establishment of the Australian Pharmacy Examining Council and the subsequent integration with the Council of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities, which would become the Australian Pharmacy Council," Rowett said.
"His wisdom, enthusiasm and passion for what pharmacists can contribute to patient care has assisted APC to flourish and become a leading international pharmacy accreditation and assessment organisation," she added.
Sansom said pharmacies should embrace community health opportunities at their doorstep.
"I look at 5,600 pharmacies as being primary health care centres, but to do that we're going to have to change our model and we must be accepting of being part of a medical model of health," he said.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 29 Nov 17
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 29 Nov 17
