When scenario planning, it helps to narrate what is happening or might happen and to spell out what the reasons might be for the proposed situation. Once these forces have been identified, it is useful to rate them in order to gauge their potential influence and impact.
Optimistic forces €“ boom-time pharmacy
Baby Boomers turning 70 and needing more care
More demand for medications and hence more prescriptions
Control of entry protects the pharmacy infrastructure
The NHS's need to save money drives more services to pharmacy
More diagnostics and better screening identifies more patients with healthcare needs
More funding diverted to pharmacy from secondary care
Face to face requirements for services protects bricks and mortar pharmacy
Low interest rates
Low wages and general inflation
New blockbuster drugs mean increased revenue
A booming economy
Banks are flushed with cash €“ easy access to funds
Technology drives more business opportunities for pharmacy
Robotics and new efficient models of dispensing reduce dispensary workload
EPS helps reduce dispensing time by making it more efficient
Online sales opportunities.
Pessimistic forces €“ squeezed pharmacy
EPS leads to a 'land grab' as large players sign up nominations
Proliferation of prescription factories
Amazon, Pharmacy 2U, Tesco, Virgin Health, etc, become the biggest pharmacies.
