8990 jobs to go
April 3, 2014
A PHARMACY Guild of Australia
survey of the employment
intentions of 944 pharmacies over
the next 12 months shows that
8,993 jobs across the industry are
expected to be lost because of
revenue cuts.
This included 2,229 pharmacist
and 4,400 pharmacy assistant jobs,
or more than 10% of professionally
trained pharmacy staff in
community pharmacies across the
country.
The Employment Expectations
Report, conducted online in March,
represents 17.6% of total industry,
with 24.9% from rural areas.
It reported that 69% of
pharmacies would be reducing staff
hours with less than 3.3% intending
to increase staff numbers in the
next year.
The Guild said pharmacies were
impacted by reduced government
funding for mark-up and loss of
trading terms as PBS prices were
reduced through price disclosure.
The survey painted a worrying
picture for employment in
community pharmacy, Guild
executive director David Quilty said.
“While the Guild and pharmacies
strongly support the Government
getting maximum value for money
from the PBS, recent changes
to price disclosure are having a
very real impact on hard-working
pharmacy professionals and the
patients they serve.”
Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia (PSA) national president
Grant Kardachi said the survey
highlighted the need to continue
developing new opportunities in
order to stay viable.
The PSA was in discussions with
groups such as the AMA to find
new areas of work, including in
palliative care and in the delivery of
professional programs.
He said the Queensland
immunisation pilot (PD 03 Apr)
could pave the way for longterm
immunisation services by
pharmacists.
“There is a lot happening and
while the latest report is not
encouraging, we must not let
ourselves become disheartened. “
Professional Pharmacists Australia
(PPA) president Dr Geoff March said
the survey showed the urgent need
to reform the CPA.
“With wages stagnant and mass
job losses now predicted, it is clear
that the Community Pharmacy
Agreement has failed and that the
whole of community pharmacy
must come together to reform it
now.”
To read the survey, CLICK HERE.
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