Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Seven pharmacy organizations released a statement on February 3, 2023, outlining their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the profession.¹

The organizations are the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American Pharmacists Association, the American Pharmacists Association- Academy of Student Pharmacists, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, BHK Consulting LLC, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and the National Pharmaceutical Association.¹

In the statement, the organizations outlined 8 steps they plan to undertake, including implementing and supporting policies and programs that eliminate financial barriers for individuals of color who seek health care professional opportunities such as pursuing degrees, incorporating DEI concepts into health care curricula and continuing education requirements, and developing mentorship opportunities for individuals of color who are students or new professionals.¹

Pharmacy Times^® commits to incorporating DEI concepts into our coverage and focusing on social determinants of health (SDOH). In February, we celebrated Black History Month with a series of articles and videos on PharmacyTimes.com, and we will focus on important topics related to DEI and SDOH going forward.

In other news, in his State of the Union address on February 7, 2023, President Joseph R. Biden took aim at pharmaceutical companies over drug pricing but did not mention pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).2 In his comments, the president discussed the recent $35 cap on insulin prices for seniors on Medicare and urged lawmakers to cap the hormone at $35 a month for all Americans. Biden also discussed potential caps for oncology drugs.2 The address also touched on other key health concerns, such as accessibility and COVID-19.²

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores published a response to the address on its website on February 8, 2023, saying the government should do more to rein in PBMs.³

Pharmacy Times^® will continue to report on the issue of drug pricing and the role played by PBMs in drug pricing and ensuring that patients have access to needed medications.

In this issue’s Generic Focus article, for instance, Erin Hunter tackles the issue of why it has been so difficult for patients to obtain affordable insulin.

We also hope you find our digital-only Technician Supplement helpful when it is posted on PharmacyTimes.com in March. This will include a focus on the reality of workforce shortages, the importance of career pathways, and advice from 2022 Next Generation Award finalists in the technician category.

Thanks for reading!

REFERENCES

1. APhA, national organizations release statement on ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care. News release. American Pharmacists Association. February 3, 2023. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://pharmacist.com/APhA-Press-Releases/apha-national-organizations-release-statement-on-ensuring-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-health-care

2. Wolf ZB, Merrill C. Biden’s State of the Union address annotated and fact-checked. CNN. February 8, 2023. Accessed February 8, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/02/annotated-fact-checked-president-biden-sotu/

3. NACDS statement in response to State of the Union address. National Association of Chain Drug Stores. February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023. https://www.nacds.org/news/nacds-statement-in-response-to-state-of-the-union-address/