Westpac Group and Pharmacy Guild – changing role of community pharmacy report

Westpac and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia are proud to announce the release of a report that explores how the role of community pharmacies has evolved through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drawing on data from Westpac Group and the Guild, the report identifies some of the key changes in consumer behaviour over the past three years.

Westpac cardholder transaction spend data, and specifically, spend within pharmacies across Australia from July 2019 to February 2022 was analysed, revealing some surprising and positive insights.

Seven key trends were identified from the data and the report explores each of these with further insights offered from Professor Trent Twomey, National President of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, and Kaizaad Mehta, National Head of Health Care and Professional Services at Westpac.

Importantly, these trends provide an indication of the changes community pharmacies are likely to experience in the future.

Whilst the pandemic has brought with it numerous challenges, it has also presented opportunities for expansion of service offerings and new revenue streams for community pharmacies.

“We’re already seeing an expansion in the provision of primary healthcare at community pharmacies, and I think we’re just starting on this journey,” Professor Twomey said.

View the report.

/Public Release. View in full here.