The growing use of medication in B.C. promises to keep pharmacy one of the province’s fastest growing professions.
Marnie Mitchell, CEO of the BC Pharmacy Association, noted the use of pharmaceuticals continues to grow by about 10% a year, partly because of rising rates of chronic diseases and the increased availability of drugs to treat them.
But she noted that while some of the increase might be attributable to conditions associated with an aging population, younger people are facing a growing number of chronic conditions ranging from hypertension and high cholesterol to Type 2 diabetes.
“That part is a little concerning, but there are more treatments available, so people are able to manage those conditions fairly effectively on the whole.”
The growing need for medication has increased growth in the pharmacy profession.
Mitchell noted that growth in the number of prescriptions dispensed in B.C. has continued to outpace growth in the number of new pharmacies. That has resulted in pharmacies being open longer hours and filling more prescriptions.
The number of registered pharmacists in B.C. has risen by 23% over the past five years to 4,800 from 3,900 in 2006. The only other sectors growing faster include human resources and registered massage therapy. Both have grown 30% in the past five years.
Accounting has also continued to see consistent growth. (See “Economic downturn fails to slow growth in key professions” – issue 1071; May 4-10, 2010.)
But another pharmacy growth driver is the expanding role of pharmacists in providing health services to B.C. residents.
In early 2009, pharmacists were given the authority to renew prescriptions and, in some cases, modify prescriptions originally written by a patient’s doctor.
In the fall of 2009, pharmacists who completed a training and accreditation program were approved to administer drugs by injection.
And earlier this year, pharmacists were given the authority to consult with patients to give them a more comprehensive understanding about all the medications they may be taking and identify any issues that could arise from their use. All of these new services will likely add to the demand for pharmacists and could increase the allure of the profession to prospective students.
“A lot of members are very enthusiastic about it, saying things like, ‘This is why I went into pharmacy,’” Mitchell said. “They’re excited about the opportunity.
“I know the UBC faculty gets a very substantial number of applicants each year, and when you think about the importance of pharmaceutical products for so many of us for managing our health, there’s no sign that the demand for pharmacy services is easing off.”