<p>The logical next step for partnerships between health departments and pharmacies was outlined recently in a new policy <a href="http://naccho.org/advocacy/positions/upload/14-03-LHD-Pharmacy-partnerships-for-emergency-response.pdf">statement</a> from NACDS stakeholder, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). In the coming months, NACCHO will provide technical assistance to health departments that are interested in building relationships with community pharmacies for public health preparedness. </p>
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<p>NACDS.org spoke with NACCHO’s Senior Program Analyst of Pandemic & Catastrophic Preparedness Sara Rubin, who said, “Local health departments are always seeking to develop partnerships with new and non-traditional partners to meet the health needs of the community. It makes perfect sense that local health departments would want to partner with pharmacies because pharmacies are accessible; they’re practically around every corner. People trust pharmacists, and pharmacists are familiar with dispensing medications and administering vaccines nearly every day of the week.” </p>
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<p>By teaming with pharmacies, the local health departments would be able to focus on the areas of public health emergency response where their expertise is needed most.</p>
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<p>There are already existing success stories of partnerships between local health departments and pharmacies, spanning the past ten years, and NACCHO plans to continue its outreach to offer technical assistance and expand the collaborations. Rubin said she is optimistic about a broad replication of the partnerships. “Success would really be the point at which this isn’t a novel idea, but it’s actually a mainstream partnership that local health departments, state health departments and pharmacies would immediately think of as a core partnership for doing business.”</p>
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<p><em>For more information visit the NACCHO </em><a href="http://nacchopreparedness.org/?p=2708"><em>website</em></a><em>. For resources on starting a partnership, download NACCHO’s </em>Pharmacy Partnership <a href="http://www.naccho.org/toolbox/">Toolkit</a><em>.</em></p>
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