(28) APhA-ASP supports that the majority ownership of community pharmacies be held by licensed pharmacists.

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R2 PRT: Pharmacy Ownership - Wording/action:
(28) APhA-ASP supports that the majority ownership of community pharmacies be held by licensed pharmacists.

Reasons for the Action(s) / Pros and Cons:

In North Dakota, the majority ownership of a community pharmacy has to be held by a licensed pharmacist. Publicly held chain pharmacies may operate, though there must be a contractual arrangement through which pharmacists must hold the majority ownership of the pharmacy department within the store; there are similar ownership policies in Canada and Europe. This would allow pharmacists to have more control over the pharmacy operations, as opposed to boards and stockholders of current chain pharmacy corporations. Furthermore, pharmacists would have a prominent new role in community pharmacy that extends into community leadership, business, and civic activity. With ownership of the pharmacy comes more ownership of the profession and where it is headed - pharmacists do not need non-healthcare professionals to mandate policies that make a pharmacist’s duties ancillary, possibly sacrificing the well-being of patients. “Retail” pharmacy has caused pharmacy as a profession to lose its healthcare identity, and this policy would help to regain it.

Joseph Demers & Aditi Shukla ; 732-618-7482 ;
JosephP.Demers@gmail.com, Aditi.N.Shukla@gmail.com ;
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia