The Changing Healthcare Market

Across Europe costs of providing healthcare are rising – populations are ageing and people's expectations of healthcare are increasing. Citizens want faster treatment, better healthcare, improved services and more information to help them live healthy lives.

At the same time, governments want to drive down costs, deliver excellence and innovative healthcare for their population, balanced with efficient and effective care that gives value for money. In particular, drug cost-containment policies (especially in relation to generic medicines) are being implemented by national governments.

Additionally, moves towards deregulation will challenge many independent community pharmacies across Europe, along with supermarkets, online, and direct-to-patient channels extending their reach to new markets and customers.

As a result, community pharmacy is facing a time of accelerated change and development.

Opportunities for Community Pharmacy

Community pharmacy is ideally placed to take advantage of new opportunities as governments work towards models of seamless healthcare provision where manufacturers, doctors and pharmacists play a more integrated role, providing a 'one-stop' healthcare service for the benefit of patients.

Pharmacists are already acquiring new professional skills, developing flexibility and are adapting their pharmacies to meet local healthcare needs and priorities. Across Europe, pharmacists now have the chance to take on a leading primary healthcare role in local communities, delivering new healthcare services to their customers and patients.

EPF and Community Pharmacy Taking the Lead

Since its creation, the EPF has actively promoted the pharmacy profession as an essential provider of healthcare. Through its focus on the pharmacy profession and working in partnership, the EPF can help shape community pharmacy strategy across Europe sharing views and expertise with fellow pharmacists for the benefit of community pharmacy as a whole. Through the development of best practice with its members, EPF can help community pharmacy

Focus on patients and individual healthcare needs
Promote the benefits of community pharmacy to policy makers, payors and patients
Develop and deliver new community pharmacy-led healthcare services to benefit patients
Demonstrate the benefits to health from better medicines usage
Work closely with doctors and GPs to build excellent local relationships

EPF recognises healthcare needs and challenges across Europe are very similar. Independence is also important for pharmacists and in the face of today's many challenges for the profession, EPF recognises that working together and unity are paramount.