NACDS to host listening sessions prior to White House conference on hunger, nutrition, health
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores today announced two upcoming NACDS-led listening sessions to support the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health — an event slated to take place in September 2022.
The first session, for NACDS-member retailers, takes place June 23. The second session, for NACDS-member suppliers, occurs July 11.
NACDS views its involvement in this White House conference as an ideal nexus with the NACDS 2023 initiative. Through NACDS 2023, the association is looking ahead in new ways to advance health and wellness, and to serve the NACDS membership with a focus on innovation in the pharmacy throughout the total store and beyond.
[Read more: NACDS: Momentum builds for bipartisan legislation to protect Americans’ access to pharmacist care]
The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health — the first of its kind in more than 50 years — aims to advance the Biden administration’s goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, so that fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
To achieve these goals, the administration is seeking collaborative ideas, experiences and recommendations across public and private sectors — including anti-hunger and nutrition advocates, food companies, and the healthcare community, among others.
NACDS continues to coordinate with the Biden administration on how the NACDS membership can best support the conference, particularly given the industry’s priority focus on health and wellness. In early May, NACDS met with the White House conference planning staff to discuss priority alignment and to explore leadership opportunities.
Following the upcoming listening sessions, NACDS will continue engaging with the administration to share key policy recommendations to better address diet-related diseases into the future, with an emphasis on improving access and fostering equity.
[Read more: NACDS report highlights role local pharmacies, pharmacists play in patient-centered services]
“NACDS looks forward to retailer and supplier members’ engagement in this important initiative,” said president and CEO Steve Anderson. “In the pharmacy, in food offerings, throughout the total store and in partnership with communities, NACDS chain members provide consumer-empowered health-and-wellness solutions. Exciting partnerships between retailers and suppliers serve as force multipliers that benefit all Americans. This White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health — and the related activities planned by NACDS — will help to bring all of this together and set the stage for meaningful progress.”
Registration details for the NACDS-led listening sessions in June and July are forthcoming.
Additionally, the popular NACDS Institute program is set to take place as part of the 2022 NACDS Total Store Expo in Boston on Aug. 27. During the session, NACDS leadership, federal policy, innovation experts and industry authorities will discuss major initiatives and opportunities to advance nutrition, health and equity.