Chair(s)

Introduction

Healthcare systems have undergone significant changes in the past few decades to meet the ever-increasing demands of delivering more complex care. Governments have issued a number of reports which call for healthcare delivery reform, highlighting the importance of ensuring the right healthcare professionals provide the right service at the right time. 

One international trend is the expanded scope of practice for pharmacists including primary healthcare reform, interprofessional collaboration, effective utilisation of health human resources and enhancing safety and outcomes of drug therapy. As medicine regimes become more specialised, the role of pharmacist independent prescribers (PIP) has become increasingly important in delivering high-quality clinical care. Greater use of PIPs within the multi-disciplinary team will expand patient access to care, improve capacity in the healthcare system and improve patient health outcomes. 

In many countries, pharmacists can initiate, continue or modify/adapt drug therapy, ranging from renewing a continued care prescription to independent prescriptive authority. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to optimise drug therapy and improve health outcomes. Pharmacists, like all healthcare professionals, act in accordance with the codes of ethics and standards of practice of their profession. 

Developing and utilising clinical skills and capabilities of community pharmacists, supported by investment in training, is part of a wider shift across the health system to improve access to care in local communities and address health inequalities.

Programme

Learning objectives

Take home messages