The palpable urgency in the voices of our pharmacists and their advocates is impossible to ignore, especially when you read the recent statements from the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the CNN report about walkouts at CVS and Walgreens. This is no longer a whisper in the wind; it’s a clarion call that resonates through every pharmacy, hospital, and healthcare facility. It’s more than unsettling to think that this crisis isn’t confined to just one sector but is a harrowing reality for pharmacists across the board, as highlighted by the APhA CEO.
It’s hard to fathom the emotional and physical toll detailed in these reports. The APhA CEO shared data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows incidents of harassment against healthcare workers have doubled. Imagine feeling so burned out that you’re part of the nearly half of healthcare workers who report feeling that way, according to the same CDC data mentioned by APhA. And now imagine feeling so desperate that you risk your livelihood by walking out of your job, as captured so vividly in the CNN report. It’s both heartbreaking and infuriating.
And what’s the response? A call for urgent, immediate action from industry leaders like the APhA CEO, who pleads for the cessation of Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) fees and fair payment structures. On the other side of the coin, we have pharmacists and their support staff literally walking out of CVS and Walgreens, as reported by CNN, because the situation has become intolerable. They’re not just walking out alone; they’re backed by patient advocates and unions who recognize the gravity of the situation.
When pharmacists put their jobs on the line, as highlighted in the CNN report, it’s not just a career at stake; it’s the health of our communities. Pharmacists are the backbone of healthcare in many ways, and if they’re struggling, it affects us all. This isn’t just a news story or a policy issue; it’s a cry from the heart of a profession at the breaking point.
Let’s not wait for more damning statistics or another wave of resignations to act. The need for systemic reform in the pharmacy sector has never been more urgent, more palpable, or more human. The voices from APhA and the workers at CVS and Walgreens have made it abundantly clear: the time for meaningful change is now.
American Pharmacists Association CVS Health CVS Pharmacy Walgreens National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) @FLboardofpharmacy @FloridaPharmacyAssociation @myconciergep
