JUNE, Edition # 27, 2001

Are we short of pharmacists or short of properly structured jobs?

"The time has come when a comprehensive review has to be undertaken of the job being asked of pharmacists in community practice."

That was three editions ago and since then we have asked questions relating to the law relating to dispensing and the tasks a pharmacy technician could do in a proper legal framework.

…and here are some comments from others…

So long as the "pharmacist" is expected by law to take responsibility for the final dispense task of affixing the label to a box and be ready for collection by the patient, the job will always be tied to the dispensing bench.

Start at what pharmacists are doing now. Pharmacists in the community setting are just glorified dispensing assistants punching through 250+ scripts per day.
The frenetic way that pharmacists have protected their role in the process (of dispensing) has been to the detriment of the development of an expanded professional role.

If we are to stand alone the focus has to be our knowledge of drugs, their modes of delivery and the effects they have on our patients. Working with the medical profession and allied health carers to provide a seamless delivery of health care to patients can only do this.

The current remuneration of prescriptions is based on an appalling approx $16-$18 dollars per hour for first and second year pharmacists etc.

Pharmacy is the only profession discouraged from getting involved (in professional activities) by our own Guild who restrict our access via the ridiculous location restrictions.

Pharmacists don't have any competition from other professions in the supply of medications yet (other than a small amount of doctor dispensing), but if we focus on retail customers and not our patients who need our expertise, who knows where we will end up?

I am fortunate in the fact that, except for one day a week, I work in a different facet of the profession that permits me to concentrate on the "more fun" aspects of pharmacy ie counselling and education.

How can we possibly progress as a profession when the indicator of a "good" pharmacist is how short a time it takes to dispense a script?

…so can we conclude that…

* A pharmacist can do more professionally based tasks.

* Pharmacy technicians should be legally responsible for "dispensing".

* The Pharmacy Act and Poisons Acts should be changed to recognise "Pharmacy Technicians".

* The remuneration rate for pharmacists should be reviewed when their contribution to health gains can be established.

?????????

IF YOU AGREE WE SHALL MOVE ON TO THE WAY THIS IS PAID FOR
……..or first maybe we should look at the research needed to establish our worth to funders and purchasers of our services!!!

	Can you justify your $ value contribution to people getting better from an illness? Why is this important? Because no funder is going to pay for a service which can not be shown to be of value in achieving its stated aim.
Hey - if it was paid for without quantifiable data to prove it's value it would be called research and would have a finite end.

So get the data…or watch the automated machines move in!!
Next edition-----you tell us----is the data there?
If NO then let's get it quick!!

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