THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia has released the initial findings of its Community Pharmacy 2025 project, including the results of focus groups and quantitative surveys across the sector.
The Guild has engaged consultancy groups Pottinger and Orima to undertake the project which aims to ensure the viability of community pharmacy into the future, by developing a "clear and realistic vision for the sector and an action plan to achieve it".
Initial Orima surveys have found community pharmacies of all types are meeting patient expectations, with high levels of satisfaction.
Cost and convenience were found to be the most important factors in patients choosing a pharmacy.
The Guild highlighted interesting facts around patient versus industry perceptions of pharmacies, with customers differentiating much less between smaller pharmacies and larger discount or banner group pharmacies than staff and owners.
"In fact there is somewhat of a dichotomy between owners who believe that patients choose pharmacies on the basis of the level of health care advice and expertise provided, and patients who see this advice and expertise as being consistently available from all pharmacies and who make their choices based more on cost and convenience," said Guild executive director David Quilty.
Patient feedback highlighted the importance of increasing community pharmacies' service focus, with a willingness to pay for a range of services including some that are not currently on offer - such as mental health services, travel medicine, diagnosis and treatment of minor ailments and nutritional advice.
Pharmacy staff were concerned about low profit margins leading to reduced staff, lower wages and increased time pressures, while overall there was a common view about stronger integration of pharmacies within the broader health system.
Pottinger's strategic advisory work has identified nine "broad strategic pathways" for sustainable long-term growth of community pharmacy: health services; in-home; new products; leverage brand; community health hub; online; business operations; automation; and coordination, accreditation & partnerships.
The CP2025 work will continue over the coming months, with further findings along with a roadmap and action plan for community pharmacies and the Guild to be unveiled at the APP national conference taking place on at the Gold Coast Convention Centre 03-06 May.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 08 Mar 18
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