How to WIN as a pharmacist in today’s market? That’s the question you should be asking yourself as a pharmacist
As I logged onto LinkedIn I was presented at the very top a new post that someone wrote. To summarize the post into key bullets it went something like:
- Pharmacy is on the brink of collapse.
- It’s a no-win profession.
- If you’re considering a career in pharmacy, reconsider.
- Explore alternative career paths.
What made this post even more shocking is that it was written by a Pharmacist! I understand that the current state of pharmacy can be frustrating, but it doesn’t seem logical for a practicing pharmacist to speak negatively about their own profession.. Telling future pharmacists to “turn back now while you can” will not be the solution to how you currently feel about the state of pharmacy.
One thing you will not read in these newsletters from me is talking bad about the profession that I am in. We need more positive thinking, future thinking and words of encouragement for what is yet to come in the pharmacy profession. Pharmacists have been fighting for years now to be recognized as healthcare providers and I think we are closer to crossing that finish line than we think. Instead of speaking negatively about the state of pharmacy we need to start talking more about the advancement of pharmacy and the potentials in the horizon. Which takes me back to my original question that I started this newsletter with:
“How to win as a pharmacist in today’s market?”
Now depending who you ask this question to you will be presented with very different answers. So i’m going to give you my answer (and I would love to hear yours, DM me on Linkedin or email me [email protected]). My answer is simple, you just have to understand this one concept
“Automation and AI will be the reason why pharmacist will be recognized as healthcare providers”
The future of pharmacy is rapidly evolving due to automation, AI, and innovative technologies.
“The Global Pharmacy Automation Market was valued at USD 7.8 Billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 12.7 Billion by 2028, rising at a CAGR of 10.20%.”
This shift in advancements will be the reason that pharmacists will eventually be recognized as healthcare providers worldwide focusing on patient care and clinical outcomes. Retail pharmacies will no longer be the center of focus for dispensing medication but more so transformed into health hubs offering digital therapeutics, implants, gene editing, telehealth services, and same-day delivery by drones. Repetitive tasks such as prescription entry, refill reminders, and prior authorizations can be time consuming for pharmacists. AI technology offers automation solutions for these processes, enabling pharmacists to dedicate more time to patient counseling, medication reviews, and clinical interventions. This efficiency improvement results in quicker prescription processing and decreased patient waiting periods.
The pace of change in the pharmacy industry is not gradual but disruptive, driven by advancements in technology. Many people that have been practicing for decades might read this and think to themselves “yeah yeah yeah they have been saying this for years and look at us now” but what they lack to understand is the huge disruption of AI in our world today.
The timeline for these transformations will depend on a few factors such as, consumer adoption of technology, investments by competitors, and the financial viability of new innovations. The ultimate outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear – the future of pharmacy looks promising with enhanced roles for pharmacists and a strong focus on patient well-being.
