Coalition wants pharmacists to play role in drug safety programs

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Seventeen organizations and pharmacy chains hope the Food and Drug Administration will let pharmacists have a role in ensuring that patients use medication safely and effectively as it evaluates risk evaluation and mitigation strategies, also known as REMS.

The National Community Pharmacists Association, the American Pharmacists Association, Bartell Drugs, Shopko and 13 others sent a letter to the FDA about pharmacists’ ability to prevent adverse events and evaluate patients’ levels of understand via consultation.

“Studies have shown that community pharmacists providing face-to-face patient interactions may have a greater impact on patient behavior compared to other methods of service delivery,” the letter read. “Clearly, these services could be utilized to meet the goals of a REMS program.”