Government apathy and increasing bureaucracy are threatening the future of the community pharmacy profession, according to the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU).
It has warned that community pharmacies could be under threat due to what it says is the Government's failure to deliver on its promise to expand their role.
A study into attitudes on becoming and remaining community pharmacists found the biggest deterrents were too much red tape and a lack of progress towards evolution of the pharmacist role.
The study. Perspectives of Community Pharmacy, was undertaken by Behaviour & Attitudes on behalf of the IPU.
According to the study, 98% of pharmacists stated they spend too much time on paperwork, while 87% feel the profession's role needs to be broadened.
The IPU says that if the Government does not follow through with its commitments, community pharmacies will face an uphill battle to attract newly qualified pharmacists.
Speaking about the results, IPU President Daragh Connolly said: "With 81% of adults in Ireland visiting a community pharmacy at least once a month, this is the most accessed part of our health system.
"There are currently over 2,200 pharmacists working in community pharmacy supporting over 78 million patient interactions each year.
"Ensuring we have a continuing supply of newly qualified and enthusiastic pharmacists entering the profession is essential to continue to serve the needs of the Irish public. It is extremely worryingly, therefore, that just a third of all pharmacists say they would recommend community pharmacy to a student today."
Mr Connolly says he is calling on the Government to seize the opportunity to enhance primary care that community pharmacies provide and for the regulators to assess the level of bureaucracy foisted on community pharmacists.
