Why Pharmacy Recruit Was Selected as a Finalist for the Service of the Future Award 2026

Oct 20, 2026

New Zealand’s community pharmacy sector has been under immense pressure. Workforce shortages, reduced opening hours, and rising burnout have affected medicine safety, immunisation access, and the stability of primary care—especially in rural and high‑needs communities.

Pharmacy Recruit was founded to change that trajectory.

This year, we were honoured to be named a finalist in the 2026 Service of the Future Award, recognising our commitment to building a sustainable, ethical, and future‑focused workforce solution for Aotearoa’s pharmacies.

A Three‑Pillar Model Designed for the Future of Pharmacy

Our finalist recognition reflects the impact of our integrated workforce model—three pillars working together to stabilise the sector and strengthen patient access.

1. Permanent Recruitment for Long‑Term Stability

We’ve built a relationship‑driven recruitment approach that goes far beyond filling vacancies. Every candidate is screened, interviewed, and supported through tailored preparation and structured onboarding. Employers receive coaching, reflective practice tools, and ongoing support to ensure safe, sustainable retention. This model has delivered 90 permanent placements to date, helping pharmacies maintain consistent service delivery and reduce burnout.

2. Locum Continuity to Prevent Service Disruption

When pharmacies face sudden gaps, our locum service ensures they stay open, safe, and able to deliver essential care. With 4,800 locum shifts placed, we’ve helped prevent closures, support immunisation targets, and protect medicine access for communities across New Zealand.

3. International Pharmacist Pathway – A Future Workforce Pipeline

We created an innovative pathway that prepares overseas pharmacists for New Zealand practice through online training, immigration guidance, employer education, and a dedicated support community. To date, 40 international pharmacists have successfully transitioned into NZ roles—many in rural and high‑needs areas where they are most urgently needed.

Why This Work Matters

The award judges recognised that our model directly addresses the core risks facing primary care:

unsafe workloads
reduced access
inequitable service delivery
fragmented and reactive staffing systems

By building a proactive, scalable, and ethical workforce pipeline, Pharmacy Recruit is helping ensure pharmacies remain open, staffed, and able to deliver safe, high‑quality care.

Our work strengthens patient safety, supports community wellbeing, and creates long‑term resilience for the sector.

A Sector‑Wide Effort

This achievement reflects the collaboration of pharmacy owners, managers, candidates, immigration partners, and sector stakeholders who share our commitment to improving access and equity across Aotearoa.

Being named a finalist is an honour, but more importantly, it reinforces that the future of pharmacy depends on innovative, sustainable workforce solutions. We’re proud to be part of that future.