Entrepreneurship Necessary to Community Pharmacy Practice, Education
Researchers conducted a literature review to explore topics in entrepreneurship that impact pharmacy practice and education.
Entrepreneurship is a necessary aspect of both pharmacy practice and education, according to a study published in Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning.1 While researchers highlighted disparities between each domain, entrepreneurship in pharmacy practice and education allows community pharmacists to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities in their profession.
“The dynamic landscape of community pharmacy practice, intertwined with entrepreneurial endeavors as a retail business and as a clinical provider doing social good plays a crucial role in advancing primary health care,” wrote authors of the study. “As the first point of contact for many patients within the health care system, community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to deliver essential services and interventions that promote health and well-being within local communities.”
Awareness of entrepreneurship in pharmacy comes at a time where community pharmacists have struggled with keeping their doors open. | image credit: Parradee / stock.adobe.com
According to the authors, community pharmacists have historically played a unique role unlike other health care providers. Due to a variety of independent services offered at community pharmacies, they are able to specialize in specific areas of health care and medication, serving as a blend of health care providers and business operators.
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An example of community pharmacists’ entrepreneurial endeavors is the joint health care business Schaffner Pharmacy and Apothecary Coffee in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Owned by Chris Schaffner, PharmD, his idea as a community pharmacist was to blend coffee and pharmacy, creating an inviting location for patients in the community to seek care.2
“The evolving landscape of community pharmacy practice emphasizes the integration of entrepreneurship with clinical roles, recognizing pharmacists as crucial primary health care providers,” continued the authors.1 “This scoping review explores the community pharmacy entrepreneurship for both education and practice. Key themes and gaps in the literature are identified to highlight areas for collaboration between educators and practitioners.”
Researchers reviewed a total of 39 articles on entrepreneurship in pharmacy. Of the 39 pieces of literature, 24 focused on pharmacy education, 11 on pharmacy practice, and 4 addressed both domains.
Beginning with pharmacy education, literature included in the review focused on a variety of themes, including the need for entrepreneurship training, interests in students becoming pharmacy owners, and the essential skills and lack of knowledge in entrepreneurship.1
“The exploration of entrepreneurship education within the pharmacy sector reveals a tripartite acknowledgment of its significance from accreditation bodies, academic institutions, and students,” they wrote. Before exploring how entrepreneurship can be taught and applied in pharmacy, it’s important for key entities to commend the role of entrepreneurship in order to drive it within the pharmacy profession.
In pharmacy practice, however, the most notable theme explored community pharmacists’ roles as both business managers and health care providers. With a desire to include entrepreneurship in pharmacy education, as well as a consensus regarding its significance, many pharmacy students may envision their future dual roles within health care long before they become business owners.
“In the pharmacy education domain, the emphasis is primarily on preparing students for future roles as pharmacy owners and ‘pharmapreneurs.’ Entrepreneurship in pharmacy practice encompassed the challenges and opportunities faced by pharmacists in their professional roles and how being entrepreneurial might facilitate this,” the authors wrote.1
This awareness of entrepreneurship in pharmacy comes at a time where community pharmacists have struggled with maintaining sustainable business models. According to Benjamin Jolley, PharmD, 1136 independent or small-chain pharmacies closed from January to September 2024, stating that some community locations lost money on every prescription filled.3
Many closures stem from what experts believe is pharmacy benefit manager oversight and their manipulation of prescription drug costs. Advocates are currently fighting for federal reform to make pharmacy business much more sustainable. But as pharmacy law is deliberated upon on Capitol Hill, researchers believe entrepreneurship can transform pharmacists and their professions if properly educated.
“Pharmacy curricula must integrate practical entrepreneurial training, and ongoing education should be prioritized by professional organizations to ensure pharmacists are well-equipped to meet both clinical and business demands,” concluded the authors.1
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References
1. Scahill S, Pirouzi M. Scoping review of entrepreneurship in community pharmacy: bringing together education and practice. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2025;17(5):102308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2025.102308
2. Nowosielski B. How an independent pharmacist incorporated coffee into his pharmacy. Drug Topics. May 31, 2024. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/how-an-independent-pharmacist-incorporated-coffee-into-his-pharmacy
3. Jolley B. 2275 pharmacies have closed so far in 2024. Ramblings of a pharmacist. September 16, 2024. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://benjaminjolley.substack.com/p/2275-pharmacies-have-closed-so-far
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