Regional pharmacy education critical

PHARMACY owners in Far North Queensland are showing their support for the expansion of James Cook University’s (JCU’s) pharmacy program to its Cairns and Mackay campuses, by funding an advertising campaign for the course.

Alive Pharmacy Warehouse, Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy, LifeLife Pharmacy and Wholelife Pharmacy and Healthfoods, have put their hands in their pockets to promote the course, which will see the university offer 40 places for pharmacy students in Cairns, and 13 in Mackay in addition to the 52 pharmacy spots at JCU’s Towsville campus for the 2021 academic year.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch President and Alive Pharmacy Warehouse proprietor, Trent Twomey, welcomed the decision to offer pharmacy training across multiple regional locations.

“We were already seeing an increase in demand for pharmacists and pharmacist assistants ahead of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,” he said.

“Throughout the response to COVID-19, community pharmacies have again demonstrated their importance in the provision of frontline primary healthcare services.

“This will only continue as the COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out, and likewise, we expect opportunities and jobs within community pharmacies to only increase going forward.

“Community pharmacists are one of the most trusted primary healthcare professions and consumers are already regularly visiting their local pharmacy 18 times a year on average two to three.

“With 97% of consumers living within 2.5km of their local community pharmacy, and 65% in regional areas, the ability for students to study pharmacy in regional areas is critical.”

Pictured, JCU Bachelor of Pharmacy Graduate, Mickaela Todd, who completed the course in 2017.