Workplace Spotlight
What is it like to work in a pharmacy?
A pharmacy serves as a place where people can get prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and even health-related advice. Its main purpose is to help people manage their health by providing the right medications prescribed by doctors or healthcare professionals.
Pharmacies also offer valuable information about how to take medications properly, potential side effects, and how different medications interact with each other.
While every pharmacy is different, they do have some things in common:
- Patient focus is key – the wellbeing of customers and patients is the most important part of pharmacies.
- Lots of collaboration – you’ll be working with lots of other healthcare professionals to provide holistic care.
- Community engagement – pharmacies serve as community hubs, where patients can seek advice, attend health events, and receive personalised care.
Provide essential medications and advice
Pharmacies play a crucial role by providing essential medications and health products, helping people manage their health conditions, and offering expert advice on medications and wellness.
Key tasks
- Dispense prescribed medications accurately
- Offer guidance on proper medication use
- Manage inventory of medications and supplies
- Assist customers with health-related inquiries
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals for patient care
- Ensure patient privacy and confidentiality
- Provide vaccinations and immunisations
- Organise and maintain records
You can find pharmacies in the retail trade and healthcare industries
Pharmacies are usually found in the retail trade and healthcare industries. Different types of pharmacies can include community drugstores, hospital pharmacies, and even online pharmacies.
You can expect regular hours and on-site work
Regular hours | Work on-site | Jobs in rural and metro areas | Strong job growth
Pharmacies are usually open from 9 to 5. Some may be open after hours for emergencies.
On-site work is more common in pharmacies, where workers need to interact directly with patients and medications. But some administration and marketing tasks may be done remotely.
Pharmacies are needed everywhere due to the essential services they provide, so you can find them from big cities to rural towns.
How do we expect working in a pharmacy to change in the future?
Working in a pharmacy is expected to undergo significant changes in the future due to advancements in technology, shifts in healthcare delivery models, and evolving patient needs.
Pharmacy operations will become more digitally integrated. This includes the use of electronic health records (EHRs), e-prescribing, and telepharmacy services. Pharmacists might spend more time providing remote consultations, monitoring patients’ medication adherence through digital platforms, and leveraging data analytics for personalised patient care.
Routine tasks like medication dispensing and inventory management are likely to be automated with the use of robotics. This will free up pharmacists’ time for more patient-focused tasks, such as medication counselling and managing complex medication regimens.
Given the rapid evolution of healthcare and pharmaceuticals, pharmacists will need to engage in continuous learning to stay updated on new medications, treatments, regulations, and technologies.
But through all these changes, patient-centred care will remain a central focus, with pharmacists spending more time building relationships with patients, understanding their needs, and tailoring interventions accordingly.