What’s In Store: Pharmacy Execs Size Up the Industry In the Wake of 2020

Unmistakably, 2020 will go down in history as the year in which our lives changed in ways we never could have imagined, and one which impacted every industry, especially pharmacy.

Drug Store News reached out to a number of key industry executives to get their sense of how the pharmacy industry managed in 2020. Although the industry was confronted with many daunting challenges amid the pandemic, there also were many opportunities for the industry to shine and achievements to be proud of. Going forward, many industry executives are optimistic about the potential for the pharmacy industry to have an even greater impact on patients’ health, as well as on the healthcare system. 

The following is what a number of key industry officials had to say about how the pharmacy industry fared in 2020, and their expectations for the year ahead:

Steve Anderson, president and CEO, National Association of Chain Drug Stores 
This year stands as perhaps the most vivid example yet of the professionalism, dedication, trust and accessibility of the teams that comprise NACDS chain member companies, and that together creates one of this nation’s truly essential industries. This year also is a testament to the supplier partners whose products and services have been relied upon by Americans and by NACDS chain members alike. 

This story drives it all home, in my view. On March 13, NACDS hosted an important conference call with NACDS members and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to confront the emergence of COVID-19. We now have had a total of seven of these calls — and many, many other government interactions on pretty much a daily basis. On March 13, the CDC urged NACDS chain members to do whatever they needed to do to stay open; to keep customers and staff safe so they can stay open; and to stay in close contact with community leaders so everyone could learn from each other about how best to meet the public’s needs. Since that time, NACDS members have served their communities — lights on, doors open. The federal and state governments have turned to pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy teams for COVID-19 testing, for expanded childhood vaccinations, to prepare for the administration of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccinations when available, and to perform an array of health-and-wellness services needed to help prevent the overwhelming of the healthcare delivery system. With every formal decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and by state authorities, pharmacy has been empowered to serve patients, communities and the nation at a critical time, and pharmacy has proven to be prepared and determined.

READ MORE