Have You Hugged Your Independent Pharmacist Lately?

For decades Americans have considered Pharmacy as one of the most respected professions. While it is quite an accomplishment that the profession of pharmacy continues to be honored, Pharmacists need to hear this directly from people in their own community.

This is National Pharmacy month. At Keep Your Pharmacy Open we are all about Independent & Small Chain Pharmacy. Thus, we have declared this to be National Independent Pharmacy week. For those pharmacists who missed the announcement, please see our article in the October 22nd issue of Drug Topics: “Anyone want to Make a Profit?”.

Patients, think about all your independent pharmacy does for your community.

Independent & Small Chain Pharmacies are known for:

• Sponsoring little league teams


• Supporting Girl Scout & Boy Scout Troops


• Sponsoring School and Church Events


• Providing Door prizes for non-profit events


• Volunteering in your community


• Sitting on the Board of Directors for non-profits


• Providing health fairs

This is only a small list when in reality they provide a host of other items and services that a community can’t live without.

Here is a question to ponder. Where would your community be if your town did not have a pharmacy? It is sad, but this is happening in various parts of the country right now. So, think about if your pharmacy was forced to close its doors, where would you get your medicine? If the pharmacy shuts down, will the doctors hang around your community? If the doctor’s don’t hang around your town, then what happens to the hospital? Of course, if something happens to the pharmacy, the doctors, and the hospital then other businesses suffer too. There is quite a domino affect that can happen when the pharmacy leaves a town. The good news is you can help but you have to take action now.

I encourage you to transfer all of your prescriptions to your Independent or Small Chain pharmacy. If you don’t want to transfer all of them, transfer one or two for now. At least “test drive” the services at your Independent. I promise you will be amazed at how fast your prescriptions are filled and the incredible customer service you receive. Once you receive this amazing customer service, tell your neighbors, your family and your friends. You owe it to your community, to your pharmacist, and to yourself to support your local pharmacy or at least give them a try.

Once again, this is National Pharmacy Month and National Independent Pharmacy Week. If anything, please stop by your local independent pharmacy and thank them for their contributions to your community.