During this pandemic, additional evidence has emerged confirming that pharmacy choice is critical and why we must stop the forcing to one mail-order pharmacy.

Throughout my advocacy, I've connected with many independent and corporate pharmacists across our nation. From the beginnings of the virus, many independent pharmacies closed the inside of their stores and made curbside pickup or delivery with their temperature-controlled vehicles mandatory. Since independent pharmacists don't have corporate rules and policies, the changes needed to protect pharmacists and patients were easily made.

For many corporate pharmacists, there is heartbreaking evidence of profits being prioritized over safety for pharmacists and patients. They feel upper management has placed them and their patients in dangerous conditions. This has resulted in many sounding the alarms and demanding urgent action.

In the past week, corporate pharmacists have bravely demanded change and started a petition for protective measures during the pandemic. Others have reached out to media, cried out for help, and shed light on the failures of upper management.

Here are three of the many reports from the past week:

CVS Chief Medical Officer sent emails to pharmacists falsely claiming that "Drinking warm water is an effective way to wash the virus into your stomach, where it is killed." Patients shouldn't be forced to use a pharmacy that shows such little care for their employees.

In another article, an independent pharmacist spoke out for the corporate pharmacists.

For a specialty pharmacy like Sycamore Hills, the decision to close their doors was an easy one. They don’t rely on retail sales for their bottom line. But for the two retail pharmacies less than a mile away, when you walk through their doors, it’s business as usual with patients able to go right up to the pharmacist.

Meyer says at most retail pharmacies, the idea of distancing staff from patients isn’t being put into practice, so Meyer created a Facebook group called “Pharmacy Staff for COVID-19 Support."

Another headline reads, Coronavirus in NY: Pharmacists blast Walgreens, CVS for lack of protections

Where is the incentive to prioritize patient care or employee safety when a patient's choice of pharmacy is eliminated?

During a pandemic, safe and local access to pharmaceutical care is critical.

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