NACDS outlines continued efforts in improving patient health to Senate committee

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Thursday that it submitted comments to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which held a hearing Thursday titled "FDA User Fees: Advancing Public Health," outlining community pharmacy's commitment to addressing drug safety and the appropriate use of prescription medications to help improve patient health.

In its comments, NACDS outlined its continued efforts in improving patient health through the use of medication therapy management services, targeting illegitimate drug sellers, improving the communication of patient medication information and working with law enforcement to return and dispose of unwanted prescription medications.

"NACDS and the chain pharmacy industry support the goals of providing consumers with safe medications and working to prevent illegitimate Internet drug sellers from targeting U.S. consumers with unsafe medications. We also support providing patients with a useful and understandable drug information document (the "one document solution"), and providing patients with a safe and legal means for disposal of their unused medications," NACDS stated in its comments.

"In addition, we are devoted to important initiatives to improve patients' adherence to their prescribed medications. Chain pharmacies and their pharmacists work with their patients daily to provide them with information and counseling on the proper use of their prescription medications and the importance of adhering to their prescription drug treatment," NACDS stated.