New partnership seeks to tranform community pharmacies

Nine companies with strong commitments to the future of pharmacy announced a partnership last week to help transform pharmacies into healthcare destinations.

The partnership includes the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Pfizer Australia, Bayer, Reckitt Benckiser, Johnson & Johnson, Blackmores, Willach Australia, NAB Health and Danone Nutricia. The implementation stage of PSA’s Health Destination Pharmacy (HDP) initiative will launch later this year, following a successful first stage.

“The team also includes our network of coaches in the states and territories to help roll this initiative out,” PSA National President Grant Kardachi said. “The partnership will see the PSA working with industry leaders who are passionate about pharmacies as primary sources of health advice and service in the community. We share a vision that this approach could help ensure sustainability for the industry."

The HDP initiative enables pharmacists to change their practice to provide a more stringent focus on consumer self-care through improved pharmacist and consumer engagement, as well as the delivery of evidence-based minor ailment treatments and professional pharmacy services.

“The HDP model has shown to be scalable and effective at repositioning pharmacies as health destinations,” Kardachi said. “The PSA is delighted to be working with these partners who believe that we can build a brighter future for pharmacy and give consumers better options for managing their health.”