THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia has revealed further details of its "Community Pharmacy in 2025" research project (PD 14 Sep), with the appointment of consultant group Pottinger as strategic adviser.
Guild president George Tambassis said CP 2025 was a recognition by the Guild "of the need to identify and anticipate multiple changing factors in our health system and in our community.
"Around the world, there is growing evidence that allowing pharmacists to practise at the top of their professional skills can take pressure off the wider health system and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions," he said, with pharmacists able to help manage the causes of hospitalisation and relieve pressure on GPs.
Tambassis added that health systems around the world were harnessing the "accessibility and professional capacity of community pharmacies" in treating minor ailments, undertaking screening and risk assessments, and driving medicines compliance through continued dispensing and prescription renewal.
"We hope CP2025 will make a significant contribution towards our understanding of these trends and our capacity to ensure the potential of community pharmacies is fully realised," Tambassis added.
The CP2025 project will look at the profound changes likely in Australia's health system, what consumers want most from their community pharmacy, changes to the provision of medicines, workforce requirements, technology and what may be necessary in terms of changes to pharmacist professional practice.
Qualitative and quantitative market research for the project, across patients, pharmacists and pharmacy staff, will be conducted by Orima Research.
A full summary of the CP2025 project is now available online at www.guild.org.au.
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