Firestorm of 60-day dispensing demolishes confidence.

The UTS Barometer Interim Report taken in May after the announcement of the 60DD policy in the Budget shows community pharmacists’ confidence in their profession has completely plummeted to just 60.8 out of 200, the lowest to date since the Barometer started, when just in Nov 2022 the 12^th UTS Barometer Report took the pulse of community pharmacy and found a healthy optimism at 146.8 out of 200.

Out of the 216 pharmacy owners and managers who were interviewed just under 10% of community pharmacists predict that the value of their pharmacies will increase, a huge 71.8% said their pharmacies would decrease in value, and 16.2% remain unchanged from last year.

This is the opposite of last year when over half of pharmacists (55%) were optimistic about increases in the value of their stores, with just 10% thinking that their pharmacies would decrease in value, and 31% remaining unchanged.

Another alarming statistic from the former Head of Pharmacy School Charlie Benrimoj who was presenting the report was that nearly two-thirds (69%) are actively considering leaving community pharmacy employment.

Benrimoj added that just “increasing wages is not going to cut it” to retain workforce, as “we really are at the lowest point the Barometer has found”.

More details in tomorrow’s issue of Pharmacy Daily.