Pharmacy Workforce: a Call for Professional Cohesion to Meet the Rising Healthcare Demand

Abstract

Demand for healthcare services in Thailand are in transition, resulting from social changes within the nation and globally. The need for equality, efficiency, quality, and continuity of care requires combined efforts from a variety of stakeholders in the health workforce. Pharmacists responsible for ensuring access to medicines need reformation as well. There has been an increase in the number of pharmacy schools and graduates. Additionally, the pharmacy education curriculum has been gradually adapted to align to the changes. The pharmacy curriculum has transformed from 5-year to 6-year programs, offering three specialty tracks aiming to develop qualified pharmacists to fit with the needs of the job market. However, with the rapid changes in social contexts and the labor market, and limited information regarding pharmacy manpower, professional leaders in the Pharmacy Council of Thailand, pharmacy schools, and professional organizations are urged to work together to set long-term and continuous actions on workforce development in order to develop competent pharmacists for current and upcoming demand.