Pharmacists could make bigger community healthcare contribution

Community pharmacists should play a fuller role in the provision of high quality healthcare, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has told a parliamentary inquiry.

The new contract should emphasise the importance of pharmacists' potential contribution to the provision of healthcare services, says the ABPI response to the All-Party Pharmacy Group inquiry into the future of pharmacy.

"The pharmacy contract is a significant first step in realising the significant potential that the community pharmacist has to play in healthcare, but there now needs to be a more confident stride," said Dr Richard Barker, Director General of the ABPI.

"The contract needs to put a strong emphasis on giving incentives to community pharmacists to make addressing health needs the main focus of their attention," added Dr Barker.

The response suggests that pharmacists' skills could be used to take on more clinical roles so they become fully integrated into the primary care team in their community. They therefore need access to patients' records and have comprehensive IT connectivity to enable them to work closely with GPs.

The APBI recommendations include:

"Pharmacists have the skills and ability to make a very substantial contribution to people's health. To achieve this, the contract needs to give them proper rewards for their efforts in this direction," Dr Barker concluded.

The full response is available at www.abpi.org.uk