ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is marking American Pharmacists Month by highlighting pharmacists’ expanding role in delivering accessible healthcare, from vaccinations and screenings to medication counseling and nutritional guidance.
Through its Nourish My Health initiative, NACDS is highlighting how pharmacy teams support patients beyond dispensing medications, including preventive care and chronic disease management.
Pharmacists increasingly test for and treat common illnesses, such as the flu and strep throat, where state law permits. For patients managing chronic conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, pharmacy teams can review medications, identify potential drug interactions, and provide ongoing counseling and wellness support.
NACDS said that pharmacists’ accessibility and relationships with patients also position them to discuss nutrition and its connection to health. Nourish My Health encourages patients to ask pharmacists about health screenings and healthy eating, including nutrition considerations related to medications and chronic conditions.
“American Pharmacists Month is a chance to thank the pharmacy teams that contribute meaningfully to their communities every single day,” said NACDS president and CEO Steven C. Anderson. “Patients count on their local pharmacy for convenient, trusted care close to home, from vaccines and health screenings to medication counseling and guidance on healthy eating.”
Anderson also called for policies that strengthen pharmacy teams’ ability to deliver care and protect patients’ access to community pharmacies.
About nine in 10 Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, according to NACDS, and four in five say that pharmacy healthcare services are easy to access.
Launched in 2023, Nourish My Health promotes health screenings, nutrition guidance, and efforts to improve nutrition security as part of a broader strategy to reduce disease and expand access to preventive care.
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