Health Security Journal Highlights the Critical Role of Independent Pharmacies in Public Health Response and the Need for Scalable Partnerships

Atlanta, GA - 6/23/2025 - The June 2025 Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Mary Ann Liebert. Inc. Journal, Health Security, highlights the vital role of independent pharmacies in public health preparedness, emphasizing collaborations during COVID-19 and proposing structured public-private partnerships for future emergencies. The paper, Independent Community Pharmacies and Public Health Preparedness: A Novel Engagement Structure and Recommendations for Ongoing Partnerships, is authored by leadership at Parasol Health Consulting (www.parasolhealthconsulting.com) and the NCPA Innovation Center (https://ncpa.org/innovation-center). It offers a streamlined framework for government engagement with the nation's 18,900 independent pharmacies through the model created called the Independent Community Pharmacy Consortium for Government Engagement (The Consortium). https://ncpa.org/consortium

"Independent pharmacies have proven their ability to serve as a lifeline for communities during crises," said Diana Yassanye, lead author of the case report. "By establishing a structured framework for engagement, we can ensure that these partnerships demonstrate their capabilities when it matters most."

The paper offers recommendations for building resilient public-private partnerships, including:
1. Tailored Partnership Agreements: Developing flexible agreements that account for the unique capabilities and needs of independent pharmacies.
2. Data Sharing Frameworks: Establishing secure, efficient mechanisms for data sharing to enhance coordination and response efforts.
3. Sustained Engagement: Fostering ongoing collaboration between public health entities and independent pharmacies to maintain readiness and build trust.
4. Equity-Focused Approaches: Prioritizing underserved communities by leveraging the localized presence of independent pharmacies.

"The Consortium represents a tangible step toward integrating independent pharmacies into the fabric of public health preparedness," said Becky Snead, co-author and Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives and Long Term Care for NCPA. "By working together, we can create a more resilient and equitable response system that leaves no community behind."

Read the abstract and get access to the full paper here: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/epub/10.1089/hs.2024.0123

Keywords: Partnerships, Employers, Public health preparedness, Response, Policies, Pharmacies, Public-private partnerships

Diana Yassanye
c/o Parasol Health Consulting
P.O. Box 230812
Grand Rapids, MI 49523
Diana@ParasolHealthConsulting.com
229-222-3444

Parasol Health Consulting aims to create better health and public health programs under the umbrella of science and strategy. We cover public health needs through design, education, strategy, trainings, speaking engagements, and partnership development.

The NCPA Innovation Center is a supporting organization of NCPA whose mission is to further assist and accelerate the evolution of independent community pharmacies in the changing health care environment.

This release was published on openPR.