The number of female pharmacists is rising steadily, according
to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare (AIHW).
Pharmacy labour force to 2001 shows the number of women
employed as pharmacists increased by 11% between 1996 and 1999,
compared with a 3% increase for male pharmacists. Women comprised
47% of all employed pharmacists in 1999, and 70% of hospital
pharmacists.
Women also comprised 66% of Australian pharmacy students
commencing studies in 2000.
Report co-author Graham Angus said that the overall number of
employed pharmacists rose from 13,834 to 14,747 between 1996 and
1999, a 7% increase over 3 years.
This growth in numbers was not matched by corresponding growth
in the pharmacy labour force in terms of full-time equivalent
pharmacists (or FTEs). FTE growth was only 4% over the period.
'This is because of the growth in the number of women
pharmacists, who are more likely to work part-time hours', Mr Angus
said.
'This is the case in both community (retail) pharmacies and
hospital pharmacies, where female pharmacists worked significantly
fewer hours per week on average than male pharmacists'.
Mr Angus said that despite the overall increases in numbers,
there is currently a shortage of pharmacists in Australia.
'The ageing of the population, a continuing rise in the number
of prescriptions being written per head of population, and the
increasing diversity and complexity of medicines requiring advice
and counselling on their use, are all contributing to an increase
in demand.'
'Although there has been a 57% increase in numbers of new
pharmacy students since 1992, we expect the shortages to continue
beyond 2010.'
9 May 2003
Further information: Graham Angus, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1183
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for details.