Pharmacotherapy 2030: 1st Symposium in Salzburg Was a Great Success!
Pharmacotherapy 2030: 1st Symposium in Salzburg Was a Great Success!
The role of the public pharmacy is undergoing profound change. New fields of activity in prevention, diagnostics, and medication management, along with digital technologies and evolving legal frameworks, are opening up expanded opportunities for pharmacists in healthcare. The first joint Pharmacotherapy Symposium, organized by the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU) Salzburg and the Salzburg Chamber of Pharmacists, was dedicated to these very developments.
The event brought together pharmacists, scientists, and healthcare representatives under one roof to discuss current trends and future perspectives in pharmacy. The symposium was initiated and organized by Mag. pharm. Margarete Olesko, President of the Salzburg Chamber of Pharmacists, and PD DDr. Olaf Rose, Head of the Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research Group at PMU.
"The pharmacy is increasingly evolving into a health center with expanded roles in prevention, diagnostics, and therapy. This development offers great opportunities for healthcare, but also requires new competencies and intensive professional exchange," Olesko emphasized in her opening remarks.
New Fields of Activity and Practical Insights
In the morning, current developments in public pharmacies were discussed. The focus was on point-of-care testing, such as determining vitamin D levels or HbA1c values, as well as modern approaches in medication management. Legal and ethical questions were also addressed. In addition to scientific findings, experts presented concrete experiences from Austrian pharmacies, demonstrating how new care models are already proving successful in practice.
Artificial Intelligence in Focus
In the afternoon, the digital transformation took center stage. In a keynote speech by the internationally renowned health services researcher Prof. Dr. Almut Winterstein (University of Florida), the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for advancing drug therapy was highlighted. The discussion centered on how digital systems can contribute to making drug therapies safer, more efficient, and more personalized in the future.
Platform for Innovation and Exchange
With the Pharmacotherapy Symposium, Paracelsus Medical Private University and the Salzburg Chamber of Pharmacists have created a new platform that promotes interdisciplinary exchange and makes innovations visible at an early stage. The goal is to actively further develop the role of the pharmacy in the healthcare system in order to jointly meet the opportunities and challenges of the future.
The high level of interest and the excellent quality of the contributions underscore the relevance of this format—and establish the symposium as an important catalyst for the further development of pharmacy.
