Letters to the editor: March 20, 2006

Regarding the Feb. 6 Viewpoint on kiddie corners in pharmacies, in the current world of retail pharmacy, the insurance liability is too great to set up such a service. God forbid a child swallowed an object or bumped his/her head, the pharmacy would be sued. Additionally, with Medicare Part D reimbursement almost nonexistent, who can afford such a luxury for customers?

Steven D. Nelson, R.Ph.
Consultant Pharmacist
Okeechobee Discount Drugs
Okeechobee, Fla.
stevenrx@okeechobee.com

I read with amazement every time Drug Topics publishes articles on Presidential elections and who pharmacists would vote for. Most pharmacists have supported our current President, his Administration, and the Republican Party in general. How long do I have to wait before the other people in my profession start voting for the issues that matter to us as pharmacists?

The pharmacists who reply to these surveys continue to pledge their support even in the midst of the complete denial of any wrongdoing by the current Administration in implementing the current Medicare Part D program. Our dear President was even quoted recently as stating, "It's not immoral to make sure that prescription drug pharmacists don't overcharge the system." How utterly ridiculous that statement is sends shockwaves through my entire being. How can pharmacists continue to support a President who cannot see past pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and PBM lobbyists to discover that we pharmacists are not the problem with healthcare costs in this nation?

It's time we all speak with one loud voice (that includes the NCPA, APhA, NACDS, ASHP, etc.) to dispel these myths about rising drug costs. We must start standing together and supporting the candidates who support us. The perfect way to curb the rising healthcare costs in this nation is to utilize the people found down the street from every American household-the local pharmacists.

I have one request to the readers of this magazine. Stop voting for the perceived "moral" issues that are being fed to you by the major propaganda machines in this country. Either start voting for the issues that are important to pharmacies and pharmacists, or get out of my profession. You are only making matters worse by supporting the "immoral" issues being promoted by those currently in power.

Brandon Cooper, Pharm.D.
District II President, Arkansas Pharmacists Association
Chief Pharmacist
Soo's Drug & Compounding Center
Jonesboro, Ark.
soosdrug@netzero.com

Recycling program a big hit

I just read your Sept 26, 2005, article regarding medication recycling. Very interesting! Thank you!

I thought you might like to know that Tulsa County, Okla., was able to fill 6,114 prescriptions in 2005 with recycled medications. The average wholesale value of this medication was $1.3 million.

Tulsa County has never viewed this program as an opportunity to "save money." We have always viewed it as a way to enhance the valuable services that we provide for our indigent constituents. In the simplest of terms, this program provided $1.3 million worth of services that our budget otherwise would not allow us to do!

Anyone can find barriers to doing anything; however, we have had a very simple guiding principle as we moved this notion into a very successful effort-never lose sight of the people who need our help.

Regards from Tulsa!

Linda Johnston
Director of Social Services
Tulsa County, Okla.
ljohnston@tulsacounty.org