US Pharm. 2006;10:3.

One of the privileges I enjoy as Editor-in-Chief of U.S. Pharmacist is the opportunity to voice my opinion on important (and some not so important) issues facing pharmacists. One editorial that received an usually high amount of mail was titled "Take It to the Bank" (July 2006). In that piece, I commented on how our legislators don't have a clue when it comes to issues of health care and the role of pharmacists. They are quick to put the quantity of health care before its quality. Some of my readers said it better than I ever could. For example, George McMillin, RPh, wrote: "We need more pharmacists to learn what is going on in the halls of government and let their friends, congressmen, representatives, and where appropriate, customers and patients know who truly has their best interests at heart."

Edward S. King, RPh, from Cleveland, wrote that pharmacies today are generally understaffed, which puts the quality of health care in jeopardy. "Quantity is paramount now. If you take time to screen for drug interactions, the work backs up, and your ‘numbers' go down. Thus, your yearly performance appraisal reflects your diminished output."

Tony Welder, RPh, owner of Dakota Pharmacy in Bismarck, North Dakota, and past President of NCPA, summed it up succinctly in his note: "The story of this profession and the collective wrong the politicians and PBMs are causing our patients needs broader exposure. The policies of both entities have the possibilities of destroying a tremendously efficient and needed distribution system in this country."

And from Jim Fields, RPh, President of Waynes­ ville Pharmacy in Ohio, comes a possible solution to pharmacy's problems. "The time has come to abandon the political approach and present a business model directly to employers that shows savings and improved health are possible using a point-of-service Rx distribution system correctly."

In my article, I cited studies from Canada and the United Kingdom showing that the United States is losing its prestigious position as one of the healthiest nations in the world. Judy Lifland Dietrick, RPh, works in a free clinic and sees the lack of health insurance as a major problem. "People who get sick and are unable to continue in their jobs lose the coverage just when it becomes critical. Hopefully our health care system will one day become a national system so everyone has coverage."

And finally, I took issue with a bill signed by New Jersey's governor that establishes a Web site listing retail prices for the 150 most commonly sold medicines from every drugstore in the state. I said that Governor Corzine, like so many other politicians, is treating health care as a commodity. I had concerns that consumers would jump from one pharmacy to another, making it all but impossible to perform critical medication therapy management. Brenda Waning, MPh, RPh, Assistant Professor of International Health at Boston University School of Public Health, sided with the governor and unfortunately ignored the issue of medication therapy management entirely. Thanks for the thoughtful and well-researched letter, but I respectfully cannot agree. It's hard to put a price on pharmacists' consultation in making sure patients are taking their medications properly. Like I said originally, it's really about the quality of health care.

Harold E. Cohen, R. Ph.
Editor-in-Chief

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