According to a editorial in THE PHARMACIST ACTIVIST http://pharmacistactivist.com/2013/September_2013.shtml
The PA BOP have developed the following resolution that was approved by the Pennsylvania Board at its meeting on September 17 and has been submitted to NABP/AACP Districts 1 & 2 for consideration and action at its upcoming meeting:
“Whereas, in the United States, tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths; this equals about 443,000 early deaths each year (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013), and
Whereas, state boards of pharmacy are charged with protecting the public health, safety and welfare as related to services provided by pharmacies and pharmacists; and
Whereas, it is an inherent conflict of interest for pharmacies to dispense the medications that treat heart disease, lung disease, and cancer – and then also sell tobacco, and
Whereas, San Francisco, Boston and other municipalities have enacted ordinances making the sale of tobacco products illegal in their jurisdictions, and
Whereas, in 1988 the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy adopted a resolution encouraging pharmacies to stop selling tobacco products and work toward a Smoke Free Society, and
Whereas, in 2008 the National Community Pharmacists Association adopted a resolution which states that any law or regulation prohibiting the sale of tobacco products apply to all entities operating a pharmacy, and
Whereas, the American Pharmacists Association adopted a policy in 2010 urging “State Boards of Pharmacy to discontinue issuing and renewing licenses to pharmacies that sell tobacco products and to pharmacies that are in facilities that sell tobacco products’,
Therefore be it Resolved, that the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy revise the Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to include language which would prohibit the licensure of pharmacies that sell tobacco products and pharmacies that are located in facilities that sell tobacco products.”
With reportedly 75 % of the BOP’s have corporate employees sitting on them.. even if the NABP’s adopt this as a model law… what is the chances of the major chains.. not fighting this tooth and nail ?
San Francisco banned tobacco sales in pharmacies in 2008.. which exempt Big Box stores and Super Markets… http://drugstorenews.com/article/san-francisco-bans-tobacco-products-stores-pharmacies it would appear that Phillip Morris sued the city on doing this… discriminates between class of retails… The San Francisco Board of Supervisors AGREED and in 2011 .. banned tobacco sales in any business that operated a pharmacy.. http://www.csnews.com/top-story-in_the_courts-c51-safeway_sues_san_francisco_over_tobacco_ban-58214.html CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR !
Filed under: General Problems
Kinda sorta hate to hear that a drugstore is banned from selling certain products. But, in pharmacies on the other hand, it’s not in the best interest to advertise health-redeeming items yet sell sex toys, bath salts, vodka, goose liver paste, elephant tusks, and specialty tobacco products. Still, on the other hand, the rationale in Pennsylvania seems to hinge a great deal on ‘if other states are doing it, then why don’t we? Just conundrums, but still wonder why pharmacists don’t ‘police’ themselves as a health-care profession. Do durable medical equipment suppliers provide this and that? Would a person be able to have a dentist procure certain such and suches or a physical therapist or a medical doctor? Still, a conundrum is a conundrum.
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From Steve
I think that no other part of healthcare is primarily owed/operated by a FOR-PROFIT, PUBLICLY HELD COMPANY.. whose stock holders only care about stock price and profits. Pharmacies stay open only when people are out and spending money and only stock products that people wish to purchase. If people stopped buying tobacco & alcohol at drug stores… they would stop stocking those products.. If people didn’t shop after 9 PM… the 24 hr stores would be GONE !
I wonder which is more lethal: 1) Tobacco or 2) misfills? If it is misfills, then CVS would have been out of business a long time ago. Just check the state boards for the chain with the most misfills.
Tobacco is first – 440,000 deaths… depending on what number you believe Alcohol – 140,000 deaths – Medical errors – 100,000 – 200,000