Many patients on social media complain about pharmacy and medication access issues. A small handful will go on to make the news headlines after their or their children's lives were harmed. The media helped me access my son's medications safely, but that was not enough. Special treatment from these pharmacies, whether from a viral tweet or a news reporter covering this story, will most likely be temporary. It does nothing to protect people from harm that should’ve never occurred in the first place.
When we refuse to allow special treatment to be the only way to receive safe and ethical treatment, we can work to ensure better for everyone, not just for the days that we're here on this earth but for generations to come.
Patients have taught me a lot. Like many others, we quickly realized we were not alone, and the pharmacy issues were worse and beyond what we could imagine. I would uncover that many suffer from delays, poor communication, pharmacy closures, and poorly staffed pharmacies or call centers.
I've learned about the State Boards of Pharmacy and that they're there to regulate pharmacies and ensure patients are protected from harm. State Boards and legislators must do more.
I’m proof that you can use your voice to improve pharmacy.
I recently shared my son's story at the National Association of Boards Of Pharmacy district meeting. After I spoke and students shared a study showing 80% of medications shipped by mail are not reaching safe temperatures, regulations to ensure safe temperature control was passed in Oklahoma.
Now, Missouri and Texas are also looking at regulation.
Supporters of this petition taught me that temperature regulation is just a tiny piece have been a much larger problem, so temperature regulation is only the beginning.
Imagine having 10 to 20 people in every state fighting to improve pharmacy, not only on this temperature and forced mail order pharmacy but all pharmacy issues. That's my goal.
Many want to unite as we build momentum.
Next month, we will have a remote meeting for everyone to come together and discuss how to create the change we need. I will post the date in the next week.
Please complete our membership form to do more in your state. It is free to be a member of the Unite for Safe Medications.
As always, thank you for your support.
Loretta Boesing, Patient Advocate