Trends in areas of practice of pharmacists : a fourteen year analysis

Abstract

Aims: To analyze manpower and identify trends in the pharmacist supply, demand and practice patterns, pinpointing and communicating problems to the educators and stakeholders who control decision making and funding for the profession. Methods: Workforce data retrieved throughout the last 14 years was selected - 19951, 19982, 20033, 20054 and 20095, focusing on trends in pharmacy practice. Results: Registered pharmacists: 557 in 19951, 628 in 19982, 766 in 20033, 798 in 20054 and 932 in 20095 with a female to male ratio of 3:2. Principal areas of practice were community pharmacy, hospital, marketing-sales setting and pharmaceutical-analytical industry. Community Pharmacy: In 1995, 35% (196); in 1998, 38% (238); in 2003, declining to 35% (268), in 2005 increasing again to 36% (286) and in 2009 decreasing to 30.2% (281). Hospital setting: In 1995, 13% (71); in 1998, 15% (92); in 2003, increasing to 17% (130); in 2005 declining to 16% (131), and in 2009 declining to 8.8% (82). Marketing-sales setting: In 1995, 12% (65); in 1998, declining to 10% (61); in 2003 increasing to 15% (115), in 2005, increasing to 16% (129) and in 2009 decreasing to 10.3% (96). Pharmaceutical-analytical sector: In 1995, 4% (20); in 1998, 4% (22); in 2003, 4% (31), in 2005, increasing to 6% (48) and in 2009 increasing to 7.6% (71). Conclusions: Community pharmacy is the major principal area of practice, followed by the sales-oriented practice. Over the 14 year analysis, an increase in pharmacists working in the pharmaceutical and analytical areas occurred due to the expansion of the pharmaceutical industry in Malta.