Let’s give a big round of applause to CVS, the second largest chain pharmacy (behind Walgreens), for its decision to stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products! To its credit, CVS is not being overly self-righteous, as it largely attributes the policy change as necessary to accommodate legal restrictions on tobacco sales in places where healthcare services are provided: this is in view of its plans to open up more healthcare clinics in its pharmacies throughout the country. So, come October, as per the company’s plans press release, Americans will no longer be able to buy cigarettes or other tobacco products at any of the 7,000-plus CVS stores nationwide.
Unfortunately, removing tobacco products from CVS’ shelves won’t help Americans afford their medicine. According to a survey by Consumer Reports, CVS has the highest drug prices (Costco had the lowest prices, especially on generics). While executives at U.S. pharmacy corporations have steadfastly opposed reforming drug importation laws to bring down drug costs, CVS’ former Chairman and CEO, Thomas Ryan, bravely supported it. To quote Mr. Ryan:
That statement was provided by Mr. Ryan in 2004. Since that time, access to affordable medication in the U.S. has only become more difficult due to higher drug prices, and Americans continue to personally import their medication, often from international online pharmacies.
The reason that those online pharmacies are a lifeline is provided by none other than…CVS! CVS/Caremark surveyed their pharmacists about a year ago; 61% cited high drug costs as the number one reason Americans don’t take their meds. Canadian and other foreign pharmacies have much lower prices and so Americans need them.
To be intellectually honest, Mr. Ryan’s idea was not for Americans to buy directly from Canadian or other foreign pharmacies but for CVS to import less expensive medication from verified foreign wholesale pharmacies and then sell it to Americans. Not a bad idea to help bring down drug costs, while keeping American pharmacists employed and corporate profits humming. Thus, understandably, Mr. Ryan’s position was dedicated to the public health and his business interests.
The heart and soul of Mr. Ryan’s position, however, is the public health alone – and not business interests. Once again, he said: “Millions of Americans already have opted to import drugs because they can’t afford not to. We owe it to them to face this issue head on and not look the other way.” They opt to import because brand name drugs are often 90% less expensive internationally. That’s why it’s best to help Americans safely buy medications where they can best afford it instead of looking the other way.
So you can put out that cigarette, get your flu shots from CVS, your generics from Costco and your brand name drugs overseas!
I applaud the first national pharmacy chain to become tobacco-free. Eight years ago, my partner and I, owners of Bayshore Pharmacy in Atlantic Highlands, made the decision to pull all tobacco products from the store. At the time, it was a frightening prospect for us because all the business models demanded the cigarette business to “drive traffic” and all the conventional wisdom said we needed the cigarettes to keep customers coming back.
For us, the decision became a personal choice between bringing customers into the store and placing the health of our patients above profit. It really wasn’t a difficult decision, even if it meant our sales would suffer. When I discussed good decisions and healthy choices with my grammar school aged children back in 2006, I felt the hypocrisy of promoting healthcare in the back of the pharmacy while peddling carcinogen-laden products in the front of the store. As a parent and former smoker, I could not continue to allow a portion of my store to be devoted to the detriment of the very patients I was trying to help stay healthy. After much discussion, my partner and I decided it was time for them to go. It was the best decision we ever made, and we have never looked back.
The outcome was a personal vindication for us. Not only did we make a business decision which was in sync with our personal beliefs, but we were able to grow and thrive after the cigarettes and cigars were thrown in the trash.
I stress the personal decision we made because there was no Act of Congress or state regulatory action which required us to remove tobacco. On the day we returned our State Tobacco License to Assemblyman Steve Corodemus, a reporter from the Asbury Park Press asked us if we thought tobacco should be banned in pharmacies. Tobacco products are a legal, regulated product. There is no reason to regulate the types of businesses which can sell them. While I felt a moral requirement to remove cigarettes from my pharmacy, I respect the right of any business owner to continue to sell them if that is their choice.
I quite often think about our decision to remove tobacco and still consider it a job well done. However, I also wonder how we could have been the only store in the area to think of it. Now, after 8 years, Bayshore Pharmacy is proud to welcome thousands more pharmacies into the tobacco-free fold. Well done, CVS.
Richard P. Stryker, RP
Owner, Bayshore Pharmacy in Atlantic Highlands