AdPha’s Pharmacy Forecast 2025: a student’s reflection

Thaddeus Rui Hang Chai1,2,3

BPharm (Hons), MPharm | thaddeus.chai@mh.org.au

  1. Clinical Pharmacist, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne
  2. 2025 AdPha Intern Award, Victorian Branch
  3. 2024 ANZCAP Pharmacy Student of the Year

[Pharmacy GRIT article no: 20251424, published online 1 June 2026]

This feature article accompanies Advanced Pharmacy Australia’s (AdPha’s) Pharmacy Forecast Australia 2025. Released in November 2025, this report provides an insightful and strategic look at the future of Australian pharmacy across six themes and introduces a new ‘black swan’ chapter. Thaddeus — ANZCAP’s 2024 Pharmacy Student of the Year — is well positioned to articulate the reflections and perspectives on behalf of the next generation of pharmacists.

I have always been curious about the future direction of our profession; a curiosity I believe many students share. However, it wasn’t until the call for expressions of interest for Student Support Positions that AdPha’s Pharmacy Forecast first caught my attention. As I progressed into my degree and gained opportunities to observe rapid advancements across both community and hospital settings, my desire to stay informed about the profession’s evolving landscape grew stronger. At this moment of reflection, I am currently completing my hospital internship and while reading Pharmacy Forecast Australia 2025 (PFA25), I came to appreciate how influential these discussions may be in providing an insight on the future of hospital pharmacy.

Shaping the profession

So, what specifically caught my attention in this year’s edition? The concept of a hospital prescribing framework immediately stood out. I have only encountered Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting (PPMC) in action a handful of times. However, I learned during my internship that this system has the capacity to significantly enhance workflow and contribute to superior patient care. Pharmacists often possess the most accurate and up-to-date information about a patient’s medicines following admission and pharmacist-led charting helps minimise the risk of outdated or incomplete medication orders. The optimism expressed by Forecast Panellists of a national PPMC framework gives me hope that broader implementation of this model will become a reality in the near future.1 (p9)

Another area of particular interest was the discussion about the role of pharmacists in addressing health myths. In an era dominated by social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, misinformation spreads rapidly and widely.2 I am particularly intrigued by how our profession might take a more active stance in countering false health narratives and empowering the public with reliable, evidence-based information.

Theme 6: Trust and security of information technology in healthcare was also an interesting read, particularly with its discussions surrounding the security of health information and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). To me, the predicted shift from ‘Dr Google’ to ‘Dr AI’ feels like natural progression, driven by the convenience of simply asking a question and instantly receiving an answer, rather than having to search and interpret sources of information independently. However, because of inaccurate information and concerns around patient confidentiality, I too stand in agreement with the Forecast Panellists that the technology is still in its immature state and might not be sufficiently reliable by 2030 to replace certain pharmacist taskings (e.g. checking). 1

On a more concerning note, the pessimism surrounding pharmacists being appropriately remunerated for our skill sets and qualifications is concerning. When I was choosing my degree, my decision was guided not only by interest but also by consideration of job stability and fair compensation. As we step into our lifelong careers, the lack of appropriate recognition — if left unaddressed — may influence how future generations perceive pharmacy as a sustainable profession. The recent introduction of the Doctor of Pharmacy program further amplifies this issue, raising important questions about whether such academic advancements will be adequately valued in practice. Nonetheless, with the upcoming enterprise bargaining agreement, I remain hopeful some of these issues will be carefully considered and that meaningful progress will be made towards fairer recognition.

Beginning my journey…

My reading of the PFA25 exposed me to many new topics and areas of pharmacy that I had never considered. While my limited understanding of some areas is likely reflected in my hesitation to discuss them in depth, this only highlights the vast scope of opportunities within our profession and the many ways pharmacists can contribute to meaningful change across diverse fields.

It also made me truly appreciate the importance of lifelong learning and the role of a pharmacist, not only within healthcare, but also in relation to broader domains such as economics, sustainability, education, and technology.

Reflecting on this has helped me recognise the relevance of concepts taught throughout our studies that I may have once overlooked, now understanding how they contribute to shaping well-rounded and forward-thinking practitioners.

I believe this annual report is a wonderful method to keep the discussions going — not just among experts — but across all levels of the profession. It provides a snapshot of collective perspectives on pressing issues and encourages every pharmacist to reflect on their own views. I am excited to see how these themes take shape in my early years of practice and how I can play a part.

I am optimistic that by raising these relevant and crucial important topics early through PFA25, the profession can work toward positive outcomes and mitigate potential challenges before they arise.

References

  1. Smart P, Levy R, Marxen S, Penn J, Rayson M, Sykes E, et al. Pharmacy Forecast Australia 2025. Abbotsford: Advanced Pharmacy Australia; 2025. Available from Pharmacy-Forecast-Australia-2025.pdf.
  2. World Health Organization (WHO). Combatting misinformation online [updated 2026]. Geneva: WHO; 2020. Available from https://www.who.int/teams/digital-health-and-innovation/digital-channels/combatting-misinformation-online.

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