TORONTO — Canada’s retail pharmacy industry has formed a new organization to give a greater voice to the neighborhood drug store as pharmacists take on a bigger role in the nation’s health care system.

Called the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, the group takes the place of the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) and represents operators of Canada’s approximately 6,500 chain, banner and franchise retail pharmacies, as well as supermarket chains and mass merchandisers with pharmacies.

The association said it aims to ensure that its member pharmacies continue to deliver convenient, professional patient care products and services. The group noted that 80% of Canadians consult their pharmacists for professional health care at nearly 9,000 neighborhood pharmacies across the country.

At the macro level, the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada will engage with industry stakeholders to advocate for the use of neighborhood pharmacy’s full spectrum of capabilities to enhance the sustainability of Canada’s health care system as well as develop innovative solutions to improve health care delivery.

"Neighborhood pharmacy is an essential and increasingly important health care service provider that is enhancing patient outcomes, reducing overall health care costs and improving access to care by delivering services closer to where Canadians live, work and play," Rexall chief executive officer Frank Scorpiniti said in a statement.

Scorpiniti serves as chairman of the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada’s board, with Vivek Sood, general manager of Sobeys Pharmacy Group, serving as the new organization’s vice president. The association’s president and CEO is Denise Carpenter, who was president and CEO of CACDS.

Also on the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada board are Dorian Lo, executive vice president of pharmacy and health care at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix; Geneviève Fortier, senior vice president of human resources, government affairs and corporate communications at McKesson Canada; Charles Milliard, executive vice president at Uniprix; Eric Muir, senior vice president of health and wellness at Walmart Canada; John Tse, vice president of pharmacy and cosmetics at London Drugs; and Rita Winn, general manager and chief operating officer of Lovell Drugs. 

Canadians have an increasingly positive view of local pharmacies, the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada noted. According to a recent national survey of 1,000 Canadians, overall favorability toward pharmacies has risen to 76.1% from 68.9% last year. Canadians also consider pharmacies as friendly (90.5% agree or somewhat agree) and providing advice that is accessible (89.5%) and affordable (84.2%). More Canadians attribute all three of these characteristics to pharmacies in 2014 than they did in 2013, the group noted.

"Neighbourhood Pharmacy exists to help connect our members with governments and others in health care to identify, research and develop proposals that deliver tangible health and economic benefits for Canadians," Carpenter stated. "Our health care delivery system faces significant challenges, from rising costs and an aging population. Access to health care, closer to home, plays a significant role in driving better patient outcomes and reducing overall health care costs."

Local pharmacies employ about 500,000 Canadians in settings ranging from independent pharmacy retailers to large drug chains. In April 2013, the pharmacy industry unveiled 9000 Points of Care, a policy platform aimed at improving access to affordable health care.

The Neighborhood Pharmacy Association of Canada survey, conducted this past spring by Nanos Research, Canadians said they see pharmacies as supporting patient care through advice on medicines (92%), sharing of health information (88%) and helping to prevent illness through programs like flu shots (85%).

"Our public policy platform, 9000 Points of Care, identifies strategies to make better use of the broader pharmacy community’s capabilities," Carpenter added. "We are poised to work with governments and others in the health care community to demonstrate the efficacy of these strategies so that they can be implemented around the country."