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3.8. Economic Viability and Sustainability Pharmacies should provide patient-

orientated pharmacy services that are

economically and financially viable and

sustainable in order to optimize medication

use, promote the adoption of healthy

lifestyles by the individual, and prevent

disease and disease complications2. In doing

so, pharmacy will fulfil the patients every

pharmaceutical need.

To facilitate the provision of patient-centred

care and be able to contribute to reducing

unnecessary added costs for the healthcare

system as a whole, innovative

reimbursement and business models for

pharmacy are necessary.

It has been acknowledged that

remunerating community pharmacies solely

on the basis of a margin over the cost of the

products that are dispensed no longer

reflects the range of services community

pharmacies offer patients and society.

To ensure patient access to pharmacy

services, it is paramount that adequate

remuneration systems are in place.

Proposed Actions 2,4,5,31

Establish an economic framework that provides sufficient resources and incentives that are effectively used to ensure the traditional and evolving roles and services of

community pharmacies;

Identify and evaluate new professional services and expanded pharmacy practice models to determine their feasibility and cost-effectiveness and impact on quality of care,

patient outcomes, and healthcare gains;

Develop a framework for pharmacy services; Describe and gain acceptance, from stakeholders, to implement reimbursement models

that are consistent with the framework for pharmacy services. In addition, to also

recognise the complexity, skill, demonstrated value and time required for pharmacists to

achieve the ultimate goal of financial sustainability;

Engage with governments, third party insurers and other payers to determine services to be reimbursed that meet the health care needs of their populations;

Support the adoption of national standardized electronic billing procedures for professional services.