Since 2006, thousands of uninsured and underinsured patients in Cincinnati, Ohio, and neighboring communities have been able to fill their critically needed medications at no charge through the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy. By filling prescriptions with no out-of-pocket cost for patients, the charitable pharmacy is committed to providing care for individuals who need it most.

Across the country, frontline healthcare workers are leading COVID-19 response efforts. HDA member McKesson is taking care of its employees so they can continue to support these medical professionals every step of the way in their efforts to treat patients, maintain vital healthcare operations and support emergency responders.

Every day, pharmacists are on the frontlines of patient care — providing information and resources, valuable face-to-face counseling as well as dispensing the medicines that patients need to manage their health and well-being. During COVID-19, pharmacists’ role as counselors, educators and advocates to patients has never been more critical.

The core mission of pharmaceutical distribution — secure, efficient and reliable healthcare delivery — provides more than 180 million patients across the United States with efficient and low-cost access to more than 4 billion prescription medicines each year. But distributors’ work does not end there.

With 2020 underway, HDA’s John M. Gray provided perspective on the vital role of pharmaceutical distributors and the Alliance’s policy priorities as part of Chain Drug Review’s annual “Pharmacy Outlook” feature.