Tobe Cohen’s Post

We are literally wasting Billions in trying to mine profit on illness and disease. “High-quality care for our patients is always our top priority and we are working diligently to ensure this is a smooth transition for them.” Here are a few data points: 🔹 Walgreens bought a major stake in VillageMD for $5.2 billion in 2021.  🔹 10 locations were closed in Jacksonville, FL (October 2023) 🔹 12 locations were closed in Indiana (January 2024) 🔹 37 remaining locations will be closed in Florida (early-mid 2024) 🔹 6 locations will close in Illinois (April 2024) Walgreens said moving out of the state of Florida would allow the company to zero in on areas with "more market power". What might this mean? We truly have a macro vision problem. We are stuck in a cycle thinking we can treat our way out of a tsunami of chronic disease while at the same time generate outsized profits at a single corporation level. We cannot. Profit is not evil. It is necessary. However, a vision of solely seeking shareholder profit from societal illness and disease is far from optimal. We must do better. From a February 3, 2024 press release: "We share a sharp focus on the important goals in front of us, unlocking embedded profitability and reshaping our healthcare strategy to deliver sustainable value for our stakeholders.” (see link in the comments). I propose we share a sharp focus on the one vital goal most critical to healthcare: keeping people from becoming patients. Whatever it takes. The most important goal: Human Flourishing The most important stakeholder: People In the spirit of genuine engagement, what do you see? It will only take all of us to find a way. #aFlourishing.Life #Leadership #Innovation

The opportunity for Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy seems clearer now. 1) assume at least 30% of chronic prescriptions may go away 2) embrace the shift from “healthcare to health” 3) navigate brand essence from “neighborhood pharmacy” to “neighborhood health store” 4) shift core customer focus to the young women and mom’s one sees in Trader Joe’s around dinner time; they are the ones taking care of everyone else 5) enjoy your employees energy uptick c/o a game plan where they get to play offense vs “what can we do to not shut down more stores?” 6) The boards may be the last ones to get it. Assume you need swap out board members to become America’s Neighborhood Health Store. Godspeed! America will be healthy again. Help drive it or be run over by it…. one might say. 🙏🏼🇺🇸🚀

Retail Pharmacy October is available now. In this issue, Research News looks at the Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches to End Gender-Based Violence. Concurrently, in the Health Series, the issue of elder abuse and raising awareness to end it is covered,as well as two issues that require community awareness and immediate action. Shifting our focus to the business front, we present a practical analysis of the end-of-financial year ABS Retail Trade data from CreditorWatch. This analysis offers a cautious look at the trends that will likely impact the pharmacy sector over the next 12 months, providing valuable insights for planning and decision-making. This month's health features are antifungals, eye care, and bone health. Click the below link to access Retail Pharmacy October. https://lnkd.in/gfPkUmzQ

Day 3 of the Member Summit had some inspiring sessions. Joyce McSwan from Reckitt kicked things off with an in-depth presentation on “Pelvic Pain Management.” This exclusive talk for pharmacists explored the gender pain gap and its impact on managing pelvic pain in women, enhancing our understanding of the causes behind this often-misunderstood condition.   Following Joyce, Surge Singh from Locumate shared valuable insights into reshaping the future of the pharmacy workforce. He introduced Locumate.ai, an all-in-one solution designed to empower pharmacies. Surge highlighted how the platform offers access to various routes and services.   Lynne Gallucci then discussed “Getting Ready for 2025.” She focused on building a competitive advantage for pharmacies, outlining strategies aimed at delivering more value. Members learned about the strategic range, including the DBGH buying power, the unified IPA Consumer National Marketing Calendar, the launch of the IPA website and eCommerce platform, and updates about the expanded loyalty program.   Later in the morning we broke into streamed session streams. Nicole Hooley and Melody Mugari led a discussion on "Excellence in Health Programs," where they shared their insights on the future of pharmacy and what it takes to thrive in health-related fields. They explored innovative strategies for improving patient care and achieving positive outcomes in communities, making this session a must-attend for those passionate about enhancing health programs and staying ahead in the evolving pharmacy landscape.   We also heard from a diverse panel throughout the session, including Paul O'Sullivan, Katrina, Jack, Stuart Ward, Susan Martland, and Keely Paul, who contributed valuable insights during their session.   In another session, Darragh O Se and Kate McGrath presented “Excellence in Merchandising and Marketing.” Darragh outlined the merchandise blueprint for success in 2025, offering strategies to elevate pharmacies’ offerings. Kate discussed the IPA Marketing ecosystem, emphasizing approaches to enhance customer engagement and drive sales. This session provided attendees with practical tips and insights to refine their merchandising tactics and navigate the evolving marketing landscape.   These sessions were an incredible opportunity to learn from industry experts and elevate the success of community pharmacies.   Together, we explored innovations shaping the future of community pharmacy!   #IPAMemberSummit2024 #FutureOfPharmacy #IndependentPharmaciesOfAustralia #IPA #TogetherInHealth #CommunityPharmacy #SupportingIndependence #PharmacyAlliance #AdvantagePharmacy #ChemistDiscountCentre #PharmacyCatalyst

𝗜𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵-𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆? The shelves tell a different story. Right under a sign declaring 'Happy and healthy since 1901,' Walgreens displays cigarettes, cigars, and alcohol—products known to harm health. 𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲: * Walgreens can drop prescriptions and double down on profiting from chronic illness, or * It can transform into a true health company that treats customers like patients it genuinely cares about. To 'Make America Healthy Again,' we need businesses willing to prioritize well-being over quick profits. It’s time for Walgreens to decide which side of health it’s really on." Perhaps Robert F. Kennedy can address this? What do you think? #HealthMatters #CorporateResponsibility #MakeAmericaHealthyAgain

Tesco. Every little helps, including walk-in health services. UK grocery supermarket, Tesco is piloting a programme to bring health services direct to customers as they do their shopping. This includes medical advice, treatments and virtual GP appointments using Bupa's healthcare services, as well as menopause clinic and services from Stella, and oral hygiene advice from Haleon. 'Good health starts with good food, but it also relies on people being able to get the right support advice and care as early as possible to help prevent ill health and not just manage it' - Ashwin Prasad, Tesco CCO. With stretched NHS services, and GP appointments increasingly difficult to get, I think there is a place for additional health services. However, is this a another step to a two tier healthcare system? #tesco #everylittlehelps #healthcare https://lnkd.in/eWQZVwtS

Narcan is still way too hard to find, even after becoming over-the-counter. Great piece by Sara G. Miller & Berkeley Lovelace Jr. who did the hard work of documenting just how tough it is to find. To save lives, Narcan needs to be as easy to find as meds like Tylenol. #healthcare #safety #publichealth https://lnkd.in/ez6V4gBM

Together for a Healthier Tomorrow At Elezaby Pharmacy, healthcare is more than just medicines, it is about empowering our community with knowledge that truly matters. As this is the Antibiotics Awareness Week, we have stepped up to address one of the pressing health issues: the misuse of antibiotics. • When are antibiotics really needed? • Why does it matter to use them responsibly? • How can we prevent risks to our health and future generations? These are conversations we are driving, because as pharmacists, our role goes beyond prescriptions, we are here to guide, educate, and stand by our community. We are proud to be your trusted health and wellbeing partner, working hand in hand to ensure a healthier, safer future for everyone. Let’s make awareness an everyday practice, not just a one-week effort. Together, we can create lasting change. #صيدليات_العزبي #مقاومة_مضادات_الميكروبات #خليك_واعي_وبلاش_مضاد_حيوى_بدون_داعى #WAAW 2024

#Retailpharmacists are expanding their footprints, as #healthcare consumers increasingly turn to their local #pharmacist for assistance in meeting chronic condition care needs. Read this Wolters Kluwer Expert Insight to discover how implementing a few key strategies can improve #patientoutcomes. https://lnkd.in/grmsg6WJ #MediSpan #UpToDateDigitalArchitect

#Retailpharmacists are expanding their footprints, as #healthcare consumers increasingly turn to their local #pharmacist for assistance in meeting chronic condition care needs. Read this Wolters Kluwer Expert Insight to discover how implementing a few key strategies can improve #patientoutcomes. https://lnkd.in/eR8ckNqP #MediSpan #UpToDateDigitalArchitect