NACDS: Political Arena Beckons During American Pharmacists Month

PRESS RELEASE Arlington, Va. — At the midpoint of October’s observance of American Pharmacists Month, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is calling on the people of pharmacy to help achieve the designation’s objectives by volunteering and voting for the candidates of their choice at all levels of government.

"Demonstrating strong political engagement is another vital aspect of remaining top-of-mind among community, state and national leaders."

“The goal of American Pharmacists Month is to help raise awareness of the value of the profession, and the decision-makers in government are among the key audiences. Pharmacy is doing a better-and-better job of demonstrating its vital role in healthcare and in the well-being of people across America, and demonstrating strong political engagement is another vital aspect of remaining top-of-mind among community, state and national leaders,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.

“Pharmacists are on the frontline of healthcare delivery, with nearly all Americans—86 percent—living within five miles of a community pharmacy. NACDS members operate pharmacies in every state and congressional district. The healthcare access that pharmacists provide and the well-deserved respect and trust the profession has earned make pharmacists’ involvement in the political process even more compelling.”

The NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots program is waging its NACDS RxIMPACT Votes effort, providing get-out-the-vote resources to the pharmacy community leading up to Election Day on November 8. The resources aim to mobilize the community and increase voter registration and political engagement in campaigns. Significantly, the program does not encourage voting for any particular candidates, rather it focuses on getting voters excited about being part of the election process.

To encourage pharmacy personnel to volunteer and vote for the candidates of their choice, NACDS RxIMPACT launched widely-shared video ads in March and July of this year—“Effective” and “Momentum.” NACDS also launched PharmacyVoter.org—a website targeted to the pharmacy community to showcase the effort. The videos have so far garnered more than 160,000 views on YouTube. The NACDS RxIMPACT Votes resources are tied together with the “hashtag” #PharmacyVoter.

“For 13 years, pharmacists have ranked in the top three in Gallup’s survey of honesty and integrity across professions that extend far beyond healthcare. Pharmacy has a powerful story to tell. It is good for pharmacy when elected officials understand that pharmacists help to save and improve lives every day, and that those white coats vote, too,” Anderson said.