In this Issue

Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare manufactures more than 5,000 products — most of which consumers haven’t heard of or thought of as part of the DME portfolio. And according to SVP product management David Cohon, the main task that specialty DME stores have — and the task that presents the most opportunity in the omnichannel retail space — is providing a knowledge resource at the point-of-sale.

“We are on the verge of an economic crisis that could disrupt the whole U.S. healthcare system.” Our lack of preventive health care — and the implications of that — was a theme conveyed by numerous economists, healthcare entrepreneurs and technology experts gathered at a special thought leadership event co-produced by Mack Elevation and Drug Store News.

Pfizer’s Nexium 24HR is the clear leader in the digestive aisle. However, in March 2017, store-brand versions of Nexium 24HR will be available. Perrigo has already secured a tentative approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its OTC Nexium 24HR generic equivalent. “We are currently working with our retail customers in making plans to launch the item as soon as possible after the late March 2017 market exclusivity period expires for the national brand,” John Henderickson, Perrigo president and CEO, recently told investors.

One of the biggest impacts of technology among a potentially unexpected group of consumers is its ability to empower baby boomers to be independent for longer, according to Pfizer Consumer Healthcare senior director disruptive innovation wellness Rimma Fehling. Baby boomers are becoming the beneficiaries of extended independence as the result of technological advances that can cover physical distance with technological solutions.

How can pharmacy retailers and their vendor partners help make health care more accountable, accessible and cost-effective? And what role can they play to help their customers to lead longer, healthier lives?

The use of homeopathic medicines as part of a self-care solution to treat such ailments as the common cold or back pain is becoming more and more commonplace through conventional channels. While a Harvard survey on the use of homeopathy published earlier this year in the American Journal of Public Health revealed that only 2.1% of U.S. adults have used homeopathy in the past 12 months, conventional outlets including Walmart, CVS Health and Rite Aid command 86.5% of the homeopathic dollar share, according to SPINSscan (powered by IRI).

Christina Speck, senior director of consumer initiatives at Aetna

Successfully offering consumer-centric health care requires a multi-pronged approach that meets the needs of a wide variety of customer groups, Aetna senior director of consumer initiatives Christina Speck stressed at the recent Retail Health Summit.

The explosive growth in the at-risk elderly population has spawned a corresponding explosion in the number of baby boomers who find themselves caring for aging parents. In response, start-up companies have sprung up offering new services and solutions to help these caregivers help their parents remain independent, mobile and in their own homes as long as possible.