Pharmacy manpower: the need for an improved database.

There are many indications that there is currently a shortfall in the supply of pharmacists. Pharmacy manpower studies available today did not predict this event and fail to adequately describe the pharmacy workforce. This paper examines the major, recent pharmacy manpower studies comparing their scope, methods and results to each other and to selected manpower studies of other health professions. The paper attempts to point out areas where pharmacy manpower date are lacking, outdated or inappropriate.