The Australian pharmacy industry has been growing as a massive business industry throughout the country, maintaining its growth despite facing challenges brought upon by the pandemic in 2020. Over the past decade, the industry has also adapted to the PBS reform which has affected the operational pharmacy landscape. The PBS pertains to changes or improvements to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme- an Australian government program that subsidizes the cost of prescription medications for Australian residents. Pharmacies are now focusing on prioritizing providing primary healthcare within the community and patient support in order to counter the decline of over-the-counter sales. Several other factors contribute to the state of the industry of pharmacy in Australia, but some are highly saturated and should be given more importance to ior the purpose to address ongoing challenges that would later on benefit both the industry and the business within the field. An example of this would be the industry’s low level of concentration on distribution in terms of manning and recruitment; which is an urgent concern being overcome by locums and recruitment services alike.
Locums in this field specifically healthcare, deliver key roles in the workforce that greatly affect both operations and outcomes of a thriving business and overall industry. So why do locums have a great deal of impact when it comes to operational business management and workforce dynamics? Is it because of the skills and assets they bring, the training and educational success they’ve mastered, or how effective they are in performing their daily duties? To discuss we will begin with the key responsibilities of a pharmacist and their specializations and skills brought to their respective community pharmacies. These professionals are expected to develop a patient-centered approach that puts the patients and their holistic health first- seeing the care from them emphasizes the partnership and collaboration amongst businesses and consumers, and the interrelation between people. As front liners in providing healthcare to people in need, pharmacists also provide counseling techniques in terms of advising the proper medication for the various concerns and health issues raised by their respective patients- this involves social skills as well as their educational background in ensuring that they provide a safe space to discuss what a patient needs and giving them utmost attention and definite instructions on how to make them feel better. A common example is palliative care which refers to the guidance given to patients by pharmacists with concerns of relief from symptoms of stress or serious illness to improve overall quality of life. As patients as well as ourselves, who else do we ask for medical help and think of first when we experience any type of symptoms that cause distress and unrest? Pharmacists do their role eloquently to provide us with the relief that we seek.
As professionals start to upskill, businesses begin to grow, and consumers develop various needs, as providers, it is our duty to adapt to necessary change- may it be for the operational success of the business, or to cater to the need for convenience of consumers especially in a time wherein almost all tasks and activities can be done digitally. Digital care can deliver the vision of bringing care closer to home, with access to the webspace we as providers can give patients the care they need at their convenience of staying in their own homes; especially for those who suffer terminal or critical diseases- being mobile is not a luxury that is given to most people and we should grant access to all individuals and consider their needs in providing exemplary service. Technology in our time is often a solution for most challenges faced in whatever industry, as everything is made available digitally- everything can be accessed by anyone.
Australia faces an immense shortage of pharmacists- with the growth of demand for pharmacists, so requires pharmaceutical care services; creating a gap for community pharmacies and other pharmaceutical institutions with the need for the same. According to The Pharmacist Workforce: A Study of the Supply and Demand for Pharmacists (2000), the increased vacancy rates, hiring challenges, and expanded responsibilities of pharmacists underscore the severity of the workforce shortage (p. iv). With about 60% of the pharmacy graduates eventually land a job in the commercial or retail sector of the industry- there has been greater competition in obtaining a quality graduate trained for the job.
Locums enter a new field in their career often labelled as “freelance” in healthcare industry, which greatly impact the workfroce dynamics of pharmacists as a whole. White most have various reasons of adapting this career shift rather than practice a full time role in their profession, pharmacists as well have different needs and wants that they want to address and support their means of living. Some healthcare professionals approach the end of their careers hence heir choice to take on pharmacy as a side job, some also treat this role as a part-time job. For some, they are still in the process of fully discovering their path and what they want to achieve- to exploer diffeernt paths before making a permanent decision. Some are also transitional profesionals- undecided between long-term commitments and mid-career individuals seeking for a career change. With this taken into account, we as an institution aim to provide a pharmacist of standard no matter the path they may take in the long run- our vision is to mold a pharmacist that is essential to a fully thriving community pharmacy with our digital solutions and intricate training. Being in a market that has increased reliance on locums and/or staffing solutions, we envision a conutry with fully-staffed pharmacies with pprofessionals who excel remarkably with their role. We embrace the technological change and shifting demand for locums, and we adapt to change to cater to various needs for a healthier and successful Australia.
Ann Coo 