Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) has provided a response to “The Unsung Role of the Pharmacist in Patient Health,” a New York Times article published on Jan. 28 that emphasizes the increasingly important role of pharmacists in healthcare delivery.
In his letter, NACDS President & CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, said:
This column validates further the competence, the skill, and the reliability of the pharmacist and the pharmacy.
Not only does the article powerfully present the benefits of pharmacists’ increased scope and role in healthcare, it encourages the nation to leverage two important – often neglected – facts about these healthcare professionals.
First, pharmacists are highly educated. Since 2003, becoming a pharmacist means earning a doctorate degree in pharmacy. Second, pharmacists utilize this extensive education to serve as credible, trustworthy sources who offer expertise to consumers and other healthcare professionals alike.
A survey of registered voters conducted January 4-6, 2019, by Morning Consult and commissioned by NACDS supported these truths. It revealed that 66% of respondents are more likely to support a Congressional candidate who advances policies that “increase access to basic healthcare services bv allowing pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to better use their education and training.”
More information about the Morning Consult survey of registered voters’ perspectives on pharmacy and healthcare issues will be released at the NACDS Regional Chain Conference, which will be held Feb. 3-5, in Palm Beach, Fla.
