As healthcare demands continue to grow, the profession must assess whether current workforce structures, perceptions, and scope-of-practice arrangements are fit for the future. At the same time, the healthcare workforce must become increasingly flexible, adaptable, and responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities. Workforce flexibility extends beyond staffing models; it encompasses skills development, evolving professional roles, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to practise to the full extent of one’s competence. Furthermore, fostering an agile and innovative workforce can enhance professional wellbeing, strengthen organisational resilience, and support the long-term sustainability of the pharmacy profession across academia, industry, hospital, regulatory, and community practice settings.

This session will explore the future workforce needs, innovative workforce models, and the opportunities and barriers associated with expanding and optimising the scope of practice across the pharmacy profession.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants should be able to:

• Describe the workforce challenges and healthcare needs that will shape the future of pharmacy as a profession
• Examine how workforce perceptions influence career pathways, professional identity, and service delivery.
• Identify opportunities to optimise scope of practice across community, hospital, industry, and academic pharmacy settings.
• Recognise regulatory, organisational, and professional barriers that may limit workforce flexibility and develop strategies to address them.

Take-Home Messages

• The future of pharmacy depends on a workforce that is flexible, adaptable, and empowered to respond to evolving patient and system needs.
• Unlocking the full potential of the pharmacy profession requires innovative workforce models that expand opportunities for pharmacists to practise to the full extent of their knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as a commitment to continuous learning and collaboration.