NCPA: Gallup Poll Finds Public Confidence in Pharmacists at Record High

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) CEO B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, issued the following statement in response to the annual Gallup survey regarding professional honesty and ethics:

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"Congratulations to America's pharmacists for setting a record high in trustworthiness in Gallup's annual survey for 2012. An impressive 75 percent of respondents categorized pharmacists very high/high by the honesty and ethics standard. Since the audience is the American people, this ranking is a testimony to the good will generated by the patient-friendly approach of pharmacists who are accessible, responsive and take tremendous pride helping patients achieve the best health outcomes at the lowest costs.

"In the Gallup's more than three-decade-old survey the level of respect for pharmacists has been consistently high. We don't rest on our laurels; instead each year we strive to become better. Our hope is that the decision makers in the private and public sector who make policy and choose prescription drug plans will tap further into the expertise and results pharmacists can bring to health care. For example, the trust that Americans place in their pharmacists makes these highly trained health care professionals a prime resource to help improve outcomes and reduce costs by boosting patient compliance with their prescribed medication regimen."

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA®) represents the interests of America's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 independent community pharmacies. Together they represent an $88.5 billion health care marketplace, dispense nearly 40% of all retail prescriptions, and employ more than 300,000 individuals, including over 62,000 pharmacists. To learn more go to www.ncpanet.org or read NCPA's blog, The Dose, at http://ncpanet.wordpress.com/.

SOURCE National Community Pharmacists Association