PHARMACY MANPOWER - IMPLICATIONS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL CARE AND HEALTH-CARE REFORM

Our understanding of the pharmacy work force has improved substantially over the past five years. Research efforts have described the existing work force and projected for the next decade the effect that changes in educational programs, increasing numbers of female pharmacists, and increasing numbers of employee pharmacists will have on the effective work force size. Projections about the effect of pharmacy technicians and automation are less certain. Continued research is needed to document the changing nature of the pharmacy work force, to provide work force data that are essential to representing pharmacy in health care policy decisions, and to help confirm the value of pharmacy services.