THE FUTURE OF PHARMACY - ARMAGEDDON OR POLLYANNA

OBJECTIVE: TO review important events and predictions about pharmacy t hat have occurred in the practice since my career began and describe c hanges in opportunities that have developed over the past 35 years. DA TA SOURCES: I used personal recollections and information from the Sta te of Florida Pharmacy Association journal over a 35-year period. Othe r supporting data were used to describe current practice opportunities . DATA SYNTHESIS: Over the past 35 years many people have predicted th e demise of the pharmacy profession. The reasons stated for this demis e have varied over the years and include government interference, the expansion of chain and mail-order pharmacies, managed care, loss of th e compounding function, Medicaid reimbursement, national health insura nce, and pharmacy technicians. Despite these gloomy predictions, commu nity and hospital pharmacies have flourished over the past 35 years an d new roles for pharmacists have emerged in managed care, consultant p harmacy, academic pharmacy, and the pharmaceutical industry. With the enactment of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 requirement s, it appears that the public has even greater expectations from commu nity pharmacists as medication advisors. The pharmacy profession is ch anging more rapidly than ever and pharmacists must prepare for these r apid changes. Colleges of pharmacy should inculcate in their students the importance of lifelong learning to keep abreast with change. CONCL USIONS: Society will always need experts on drugs. Pharmacists must ri se to the challenge and accept new and changing roles in drug therapy management. If that occurs the future of pharmacy will be ensured.