From our Chair

Pharmacy during COVID-19

Uncertainty has underpinned this period. At short notice, the APC had to cancel and postpone multiple exams. The unforeseeable future made this a very difficult task to manage. However, the dedication of APC staff prevailed to find solutions.

Budgeting in a time of uncertainty has also been a challenge. The team has done a great job at predicting the likely impacts over the coming year. Bronwyn has been working with FARM to set a budget for 2020/21, of which a predicted loss of income from exams and assessments will be the main adjustment. This loss is due to border closures and continuing challenges with scheduling exams. It’s been an exceptionally challenging year for our colleagues around Australia, but I am so proud to be a part of a profession that puts the community first.

Universities have had to turn around their delivery models for degree courses, whilst seeing much of their research suspended. Delivering courses by remote learning is hard enough, doing it from home must have been an enormous challenge.

Our community pharmacy colleagues have had a tough time. Especially when the signals about shortfalls in medication supplies caused public concern. however, they didn’t miss a beat amidst the disruptions to services. And they served the public despite personal risk.

Hospital pharmacists have worked hard to maintain the supply of medicines to our patients. This includes both the critical care medicines needed to treat ICU patients, and the essential medicines needed to ensure patients without COVID infections can continue to be treated safely and effectively. Workplaces have developed COVID-safe plans. Such plans include requirements for PPE and physical distancing, to keep our staff and patients safe.

Pharmacists have also been at the forefront of data analysis to determine what impact COVID-19 has had on medical supplies. They have worked with the states and the Commonwealth on real-time data, monitoring:

• treatment regimens, and
• increasing visibility of medicine supplies across the country

This work has highlighted that skills in research, data analytics and informatics are important for us to attain. They are core skills that pharmacists of the future need.

Many community pharmacies and hospitals made the decision to suspend student clinical placements. This reduced the risk of exposure to the virus. Others elected to increase their numbers, intending to utilise their skills to bolster our workforce. Student feedback demonstrated that they valued the experience gained.

Governments issued guidance to workplaces that ensure critical student workplace experiences can go ahead safely. This assures the supply of the future workforce.

The virus is likely to be with us for some time to come. We’ve seen second waves in Victoria and small numbers of cases in other states. APC will continue to work with our stakeholders to ensure excellence in pharmacy education and exams. And as things get back to (COVID) normal, our profession will need to adapt to changes that this pandemic will continue to bring. Importantly, changes such as the delivery of degrees and the ability for overseas registered pharmacists to make their homes in Australia.

If the past year is a gauge on the capacity and capability of APC ahead, then our upcoming year is absolutely in incredible hands with our team. COVID-19 will continue to impact on services and programs, it’s the reality to which we must adapt and accept random change. However, what does not change is our pursuit of advancing and assuring quality in pharmacy education.