Forecast of the future of hospital pharmacy in Australia

A study was undertaken to forecast the future of hospital pharmacy in Australia over the next 10-20 years. Future activities of hospital pharmacists, activities that should be downgraded or abandoned, and problems predicted to confront hospital pharmacists were identified. A modified Delphi technique using a series of three questionnaires, interspersed with controlled opinion feedback, was employed. In hospitals throughout Australia, 68 directors of pharmacy participated in the study. The final response rate of the survey was 72% (49/68). The consensus was that hospital pharmacists should: (1) perform activities that have a strong clinical emphasis, make greater use of computers in many areas of practice, offer extended hours of service, help develop graduate and postgraduate courses, and undertake a greater role in teaching and research; (2) downgrade activities of a repetitive, nonprofessional nature, especially those that could be performed by support personnel, such as bulk manufacturing, clerical duties, drug repackaging and handling, and dispensing procedures; and (3) abandon the purchase of nonpharmaceutical products, the manufacture of products commercially available, and certain clerical functions. It was predicted that pharmacists may face problems relating to financial restriction, managerial ability, quality of staff, and loss of professional integrity in the future. The results suggested that the future of hospital pharmacy in Australia will be subject to considerable change with respect to the activities undertaken by pharmacists and the problems that the profession may confront.