OVER 100 pharmacists from around the country gathered in Sydney yesterday for the start of the Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA) Pharmacist Academy, a new education conference designed to equip pharmacists with advanced clinical, business and leadership skills to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.

Steven Kastrinakis (pictured), IPA Managing Director and founder, kicked off proceedings, outlining the strategy behind IPA’s aim to grow its network of 1,050 stores to 1,200 over the next year.

IPA canvassed its members about what they considered important, with trading terms coming out at number one, followed by operational support, then training.

The inaugural IPA Pharmacist Academy, as well as a new learning platform to be launched shortly, are key to this.

“IPA is about making sure that we give you what you want, and you have told us that you don’t want the one-size-fits-all approach,” Kastrinakis said.

“Our priorities to you are really simple: it’s going to be around community and the way that we’re going to help you as IPA.

“Our role is to make sure that we put community first, and how we do that is to have a hyperlocal campaign that helps identify you in your local community.”

IPA branding or co-branding of store signage, as seen at the IPA-branded pharmacy in Broadbeach, Qld (PD 27 Mar) will be part of thatstrategy.

Sustainable terms of business and value; ease of doing business; and disruptive innovation were other priorities.

“Under the motto ‘Here for good’, we’re not only going to talk to you, but we’re going to talk through you to your patients,” Kastrinakis said.

“And that’s going to be the difference with IPA.”

Kastrinakis was followed by IPA co-founder Michael Flannery, who spoke about ‘disruptive innovation’ in the IPA fold, including Brad Butt’s Men’s Health Downunder pharmacy clinic and Jack Buckley, ‘the flying pharmacist’.

Flannery urged attendees to look for opportunities to drive change, whether big or small.

Kastrinakis concurred, saying, “When I asked the first guy that I worked for where I can make an impact as a pharmacist, he said ‘turn up, be present and have a presence’.”

IPA Pharmacist Academy concludes tomorrow. KB

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