Role of Pharmacists in the Australian Healthcare System

This article explores the current and future status of pharmacists in the Australian healthcare system. It discusses the role of pharmacists in healthcare, their training, and the future vision of their role in healthcare. The article also presents personal viewpoints and research studies on the topic.

Pharmacy
PHARMACY
1

Pharmacy
Introduction
The present state of international healthcare standards shows that pharmacists
are not only having a role to provide prescribed medicine rather they hold a more
valuable role in the medical system. In the United Kingdoms, pharmacists work to
provide independent prescriptions (as per their training) and similar extended role is
adopted in Canada providing an additional ‘prescribing role’ to the pharmacist (Hoti,
Hughes & Sunderland, 2011). The Australian healthcare system currently focuses to
expand the role of the pharmacist in their system yet the adopted approaches are very
slow and steady (Harding & Taylor, 2015). As per studies of Hoti, Hughes &
Sunderland (2014), there are more than 25,000 pharmacists in Australia out of which
21,000 work in pharmacy sector pursuing the same traditional role of providing
doctor’s prescribed medication to the patient. This makes it a matter of study, that is
the role of the pharmacist considered important in the Australian healthcare system or
not?, making it an issue matter of concern.
The current status of pharmacist’s role in the Australian healthcare system
A registered pharmacist in Australia undergoes a degree program (4year
Bachelor or 2year Master of Pharmacy) followed by 1-year professional training as
per the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). However, these highly qualified
pharmacist work as professional assistance and technicians in hospital and community
pharmacies functioning to supply medicines, undertake management tasks like
refilling stock, supplying ward medicines, aseptic compounding and other
administrative responsibilities (Harding & Taylor, 2015). The traditional pharmacist
in community pharmacy practice plays the role of advisor, primary care provider and
medicine provider to the patient. This role of the pharmacist is designed as per ‘the
remuneration healthcare model’ followed in the Australian healthcare system.
Unfortunately, this model does not support the patient centred approach of care.
According to Famiyeh & McCarthy (2017) studies, the Australian pharmacy
integration in healthcare structure lags behind many other countries. The Australian
healthcare system is being slow to implementing modern care models; transitional
care methods and e-health enablement in pharmacy field development. However,
Bond (2015) indicated that the Australian healthcare system considers these modern
2

Pharmacy
approaches as a threat to healthcare quality rather than opportunities to deliver better
patient-oriented care.
Further, Noble & Billett (2017) mentioned that Australia currently does not
provide any training program for pharmacists who are willing to work in the hospital
sector rather these pharmacists can only find a position in hospital pharmacy after
finishing their registration. There are only 10% pharmacist every year who get proper
hospital training only as an intern but later they are allowed to perform a generalist
role for clinical services, information services etc. However, Famiyeh & McCarthy
(2017) indicated that the current and future status of pharmacist in Australia is
regularly getting modified to attain better patient services from professionals. As per
new standards of clinical pharmacy published in 2013, pharmacists have attained a
better role in clinical services where they work in a collaborative manner with other
healthcare professionals rather than just assisting them in the medication process. As
per these standards, the pharmacist can perform medication reconciliation, drug
monitoring, drug reaction management, clinical reviewing and quality improvement
activity. Further, the pharmacist can practice in research, provide medical
information, contribute to medicine management activities as well as participate in
ward meeting in hospitals.
The future vision of pharmacist role in the Australian healthcare system
Moles & Stehlik (2015) studies about two future directions for pharmacist role
in Australian healthcare practice. These are “The advance level pharmacist” and “The
prescribing level pharmacist”. The advance practice of a pharmacist involves
working as a mentor in their specific practice field. The advance practice areas are
developed as per patient requirement, education standards, care quality standards and
medication review to medical fields such as compounding and oncology for the
pharmacist. These pharmacist practicing advance level are also known as a ‘specialist
pharmacist’. Secondly, “the prescribing pharmacist” is another future direction
moulding pharmacist role in the Australian healthcare system. However, the
prescribing pharmacist is currently not a legal trend in Australia. There is no proper
law in Australia that allows a pharmacist to prescribe medicines (Part 5- the future of
pharmacy, 2019). But, Bond (2015) indicated that there are 2 schedules, in the 1st
schedule, pharmacist can suggest pharmacy medicines to the patient’s that are sold in
3

Pharmacy
the pharmacy under their supervision and the 2nd schedule involves pharmacist only
medicines which are handed to the patient by pharmacist themselves. These advance
practises are structuring the role of a pharmacist in the Australian healthcare system.
Further, there is 2023 vision developed by the Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia (PSA) to restructure the role of a pharmacist in the healthcare system. This
vision involves three key planks that allow a full scope of practice, pharmacist all-
round development and better standards of practice. As per full practice scope, PSA
considers that pharmacist should work as medical experts with increased
responsibility, facing challenges and managing medication to deliver patient centred
care. Further, the pharmacist all-round development shall involve the development of
significant and sufficient expert skills and training to develop capabilities of full scope
practice. Lastly, the vision of better practice standards shall allow better
accountability, quality improvement and positive clinical results by pharmacist role in
healthcare structure (Pharmacy Future: Vision, 2023).
Personal standpoint on the role of pharmacists in the Australian healthcare
system
From the personal viewpoint and research studies, it can be clearly stated that
enhancing pharmacist role in healthcare shall be a better and beneficial decision to
deliver effective quality care and establish patient-centred approach. According to
Awaisu, Kheir & Alsalimy (2015) study, researches in healthcare structure and
development also support expanding the role of the pharmacist in Australia. Like,
Emmerton, Marriott, Bessell, Nissen & Dean (2015) studied a survey where 2592
questionnaire was distributed among pharmacist patients and pharmacist regarding
extending the role of ‘prescribing pharmacist’. Out of 2592 participants 71%
positively supported enhancing this role in healthcare, 20% showed no response and
leftover were negative response. This survey clearly supports for enhancing the role
of pharmacist in healthcare.
As per personal viewpoint, the non-traditional roles of pharmacist do not meet
the requirements of contemporary medical issues, emergencies and diseases. The
patient today needs maximum possible expert support and advice to deal with
regularly emerging critical health issues and diseases. A better-trained pharmacist
with no doubt provides effective support care services that shall benefit the diversified
4

Pharmacy
population of the patient’s in Australia. Moles & Stehlik (2015) studies a survey
where pharmacists were interviewed about their viewpoint on the need of additional
training and skill development. 60% pharmacist mentioned the need for additional
training and development for better performance. The consultant pharmacists who
were generally middle-aged following traditional pharmacist practices were less
supportive of this opportunity. Hence, contemporary practices of prescribing
pharmacist and advance practicing pharmacist hold a better future for the Australian
healthcare system.
Conclusion
The Australian healthcare system is restructuring the role of pharmacist
profession to establish better quality care outcomes. As mentioned in research, the
country lags behind in pharmacist advance practices as compared to other countries.
But, still, the future vision of the Australian healthcare system is promising to
establish a pharmacist role as an important one in healthcare structure. As per
personal viewpoint, the elimination of traditional pharmacist practices and the
establishment of contemporary pharmacist practices shall be highly workable for
better quality care achievement.
5

Pharmacy
References
References
Books
Harding, G., & Taylor, K. M. (Eds.). (2015). Pharmacy practice. CRC Press.
Journals
Awaisu, A., Kheir, N., & Alsalimy, N. (2015). Pharmacists’ attitudes towards
pharmacy practice research: A review. In Pharmacy Practice Research
Methods (pp. 237-247). Adis, Cham.
Bond, C. (2015). Pharmacy practice research: evidence and impact. In Pharmacy
Practice Research Methods (pp. 1-24). Adis, Cham.
Emmerton, L., Marriott, J., Bessell, T., Nissen, L., & Dean, L. (2015). Pharmacists
and prescribing rights: review of international developments. J pharm pharm
Sci, 8(2), 217-225.
Famiyeh, I. M., & McCarthy, L. (2017). Pharmacist prescribing: a scoping review
about the views and experiences of patients and the public. Research in Social and
Administrative Pharmacy, 13(1), 1-16.
Hoti, K., Hughes, J., & Sunderland, B. (2011). Pharmacy clients' attitudes to
expanded pharmacist prescribing and the role of agency theory on involved
stakeholders. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 19(1), 5-12.
Hoti, K., Hughes, J., & Sunderland, B. (2014). Identifying the perceived training
needs for A ustralian pharmacist prescribers. International Journal of Pharmacy
Practice, 22(1), 38-46.
Moles, R. J., & Stehlik, P. (2015). Pharmacy practice in Australia. The Canadian
journal of hospital pharmacy, 68(5), 418.
Noble, C., & Billett, S. (2017). Learning to prescribe through co‐working: junior
doctors, pharmacists and consultants. Medical education, 51(4), 442-451.
Website
Part 5- the future of pharmacy. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.guild.org.au/resources/pharmacy-review/part-5-the-future-of-
pharmacy
Pharmacy Future: Vision 2023 - Australian Pharmacist. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/pharmacy-future-vision-2023/.
6