NACDS' Anderson Hails NACDS Members for Seizing Historic Opportunities

PRESS RELEASE

Boston, Massachusetts (August 24, 2014) —Members of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) are driving the successes of the Association and of the industry at a unique time of opportunity. That was the clear message to NACDS Total Store Expo attendees this morning from NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.

Referencing the tendency of individuals to use interchangeably the name of a trade association and its events, Anderson said, “Today, I want to convey an important truth. Your engagement is more than just ‘going to NACDS’ — in fact, you are NACDS.”

“NACDS does one very important thing with obsession, with precision and without exception,” he explained. “It’s the most important principle of association leadership: to succeed, an organization must prove that it’s member-driven.”

Anderson credited NACDS members for the effectiveness of the NACDS Total Store Expo and the annual calendar of NACDS events.

“What makes NACDS meetings the gold standard is the amazing work that you do here, the business that you conduct, and the results that you achieve,” he said.

Anderson described opportunities for NACDS members to work through NACDS programs and services throughout the year to meet the public’s needs — as both consumers and patients.

“The opportunity is greater right now than ever before,” he said. “If this moment in time cannot be called a renaissance of health, wellness and consumer-focused retailing, then no time in our history will ever bear that name.”

Anderson described results of opinion research commissioned by NACDS that shows strong and growing support for new pharmacy services. The research also suggests a strong reliance on pharmacists as sources of information about prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and personal health questions. It also suggests a reliance on stores with pharmacies as sources of diverse personal care products.

Anderson also described initiatives underway in Congress to examine opportunities for healthcare innovation. He described NACDS’ ongoing work — through Congressional pharmacy tours, direct advocacy and communications – to inject the value of NACDS chain and associate members into those Congressional discussions and actions.

Demonstrating NACDS’ effectiveness in pursuing front-end and pharmacy issues alike, Anderson summarized current NACDS initiatives on topics including joint business planning, cybersecurity, leveraging mobile technologies, advocating for the designation of pharmacists as healthcare providers under Medicare Part B, the implementation of the new prescription drug supply chain law, myriad developments related to the Affordable Care Act, and the ongoing focus on medication adherence, among many others.

“NACDS is playing a major role in positioning this industry in this truly dynamic and historic time,” Anderson said. “You are playing a major role in positioning this industry, because you are NACDS.”

Anderson delivered his remarks during today’s Business Program of the NACDS Total Store Expo. Joining Anderson on the program were John Standley, Chairman and CEO of Rite Aid Corporation and NACDS Chairman of the Board, and Dr. Ben S. Bernanke, Former Chairman, The Federal Reserve System, who delivered keynote remarks.