Wednesday, September 2, 2026

8:00 AM - 8:45 AM

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Details

Moderators: Chairs to be confirmed Programme: Overview MOWE-0101 - The collaborative development of Australasian competency standards for pharmacy technicians Pharmacy technicians play an increasingly important role in healthcare across Australia and New Zealand. As pharmacists take on more clinical responsibilities, technicians are handling more complex tasks that require specific skills and knowledge. However, there were no consistent standards defining scope and required expertise, experience and skills for pharmacy technicians, leading to variations in practice and limited career development opportunities. This project aimed to create the first unified competency standards for pharmacy technicians across both countries. The framework was developed over 18 months in three phases. First, we reviewed international best practices. Second, a working group of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from community pharmacies and hospitals across Australia and New Zealand collaborated through focus group sessions. Third, we conducted extensive consultation including online workshops, stakeholder meetings, and public feedback periods in both countries, receiving input to refine the final framework. The framework established six core competency areas: Cultural Inclusion and Diversity, Professionalism and Ethics, Communication and Collaboration, Medicines Management and Patient Care, Leadership and Management, and Education and Research. Forty-three stakeholders participated in the consultation process. Confidence in the standards was high, with overall ratings of 7.7/10 in Australia and 7.5/10 in New Zealand. Participants highlighted the value of creating career pathways, standardising practice, and strengthening workforce recognition. Supporting resources including self-assessment tools were developed to help implement the framework. This framework is a major achievement in establishing consistent practice standards for pharmacy technicians across Australasia. It provides a foundation for education programmes, professional recognition, and career development while ultimately improving patient safety through clearly defined competencies for this essential healthcare workforce. A secondary, but no less notable, benefit, is the ongoing growth of pharmacist scope enabled by an increasingly empowered technician workforce. MOWE-0102 – Measuring the social and economic value of the community pharmacy sector in Portugal Community pharmacies are a pillar of healthcare delivery, providing accessible, patient-centred services that support therapeutic adherence, health literacy, and integration with primary care. To the best of our knowledge, international systematic evidence quantifying the broader socio-economic contributions of community pharmacies is limited. This session will present the results of a project that comprehensively assessed the economic, social, and environmental value of the Portuguese community pharmacy sector. The study, conducted in collaboration with NOVA School of Business and Economics (an academic partner, from Portugal), aimed to provide robust, evidence-based insights to guide policy, professional practice, and strategic planning, while highlighting the untapped potential of pharmacies to further strengthen health system sustainability. The session will focus on three interrelated objectives of the study. First, it quantifies the economic impact of community pharmacies using Input-Output modelling to capture direct, indirect, and induced effects on GDP, employment, and fiscal revenue; second, the study evaluates the social value of pharmacies as critical proximity healthcare providers, emphasising their role in improving health outcomes, promoting equitable access, supporting patient adherence, and enhancing social cohesion; third, the environmental contributions of pharmacies are examined through several initiatives and other sustainable operational practices, including the indirect environmental effects of services on patient travel and logistics. By attending this session, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of both the current and potential contributions of community pharmacies to health systems and to society. The discussion will highlight how leveraging the full capacity of pharmacies can enhance health equity, optimise resource use, and strengthen system sustainability. This session offers a unique opportunity to engage in a thematic dialogue on the strategic role of community pharmacies, with implications for policy, practice, and research in health services both nationally and internationally.

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Chairs & speakers