Globalizing Pharmacy Practice Ventures

In his blog, Adam J. Fein, PhD, suggests that the 3 largest US-based wholesalers are now all expanding significantly outside North America. One question that the trend towards the globalization of pharmaceutical wholesalers raises: when will we begin to see globalization with pharmacy practice ventures that will result in an internationalization of pharmacist licensure?

At first glance, it doesn’t seem possible, but economics talks. We have already seen US chain pharmacies buying pharmacy chains in other countries. Could the next step be a desire to transfer pharmacists between countries?

More countries are following the American model of pharmacy education, so the differences in skills sets are becoming minimized. If you need pharmacists with different language skills, why not just import them from a country that speaks that language?

The present oversupply of pharmacists in the US may slow down this need, but I think we might see if within a decade.