2025 Vision for Pharmacy - Speculation 1

The first of six Speculations by eminent pharmacists to assist you with your submission for a chance to win a prize on a vision for pharmacy in 2025. See the end of this article for details.

Projecting into the Future – An Agenda for Change

By Ivan Kotzé – CPA President

Yes, the world today is very different from the past!

When the Commonwealth was established in 1949, pharmacy services mainly consisted of extemporaneous preparations of prescriptions – pharmacy was an art and medicines were referred to as drugs and poisons. At the time of the establishment of the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association in 1969, a major change in the practice of pharmacy was happening. There was a shift away from pharmacy prepared products to the supply of medicines manufactured in dedicated manufacturing facilities. Safety, quality and efficacy issues became the regulatory focus and pharmacists became responsible for ensuring that the appropriate product was supplied, and for making sure that the product was correctly used, because it was realised that this would produce healthy and beneficial outcomes.

We have entered a new era where nano-technology in medicines is being investigated. The nature of products will become more diverse with the advent of combination therapies, diagnostics, biomarkers and treatments targeted at patients with specific disease subtypes. Many of the new medicines reaching the market also use novel delivery technologies like controlled-release implants and targeted carriers. These developments will challenge the traditional supply systems and automated dispensing for most primary-care medications will become the norm.^¹

Resources will be challenged, with healthcare policy makers and payers increasing their control of treatment regimens and prescribing. The recognition of prevention rather than disease control will become more apparent and the topic "Healthy lifestyle" will be on every health care agenda.

It is combinations of all of the above that are directing the future of healthcare and the traditional practice roles of healthcare providers are shifting. A new agenda point appears at various meetings, namely Task Shifting. We see the expansion of the traditional roles and for pharmacists this means dynamic and exciting opportunities.

Pharmacists will practise in an environment where new technology or the smart use of current technology will change traditional practice processes and tools such as cell phones are already utilised for services beyond their initial design. Health care records, patient profile and authorisations for supply of health services will be channelled through this or similar devices. The use of printed material or references will become the exception as IT further develops and access to information is only a "click" away.

On the other hand, human resource challenges and access to funding will still present major challenges in many parts of the world and change in these communities will be slow. We will see a widening of the gap between the level of services provided as the pace of new developments will outstrip the "catching-up" in those communities challenged with resources.

References:
1. Pharma 2020; The vision Which path will you take? - PriceWaterhouseCoopers

CPA is encouraging its member organisations and its members to make a submission on what they feel will emerge to have an impact on health care directly or indirectly relating to pharmacy by 2025. A prize will be awarded to the member organisation or member sending in the best submission.

The Presidents Message from Commonwealth Pharmacy Day can be read online.

Full details can be downloaded here: 2025 Vision for Pharmacy (PDF)