NACDS Public Opinion Dashboard now includes state-by-state and national data showing voters’ strong support for empowering pharmacies and pharmacists to help address COVID-19 fully.
The release of the state data builds on NACDS’ prior announcement of national poll results. It also complements NACDS’ policy maps that show actions taken by states – and remaining critical needs – to help keep patients on their medications, to help keep pharmacies operating, and to empower pharmacists to provide care to those affected by COVID-19 and other illnesses.
“It is critical for a full COVID-19 response that the federal and state governments remove barriers that hamstring pharmacies and pharmacists. Half-measures will not suffice,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “For public health and for the health of every American, barriers must be removed to fully empower pharmacies, the most accessible healthcare destinations located within five miles of 91 percent of Americans, and pharmacists, who graduate as doctors of pharmacy.”
Among the national survey’s findings:
- 90% say it is easy to access pharmacies – the most accessible healthcare destination tested;
- 76% agree that COVID-19 has shown that public health partners like pharmacies are important and barriers need to be removed, such as some government regulations that prevent pharmacies from being utilized to the fullest extent possible;
- After learning more about the role of pharmacists, 86% say pharmacists should be allowed to provide tests for COVID-19, and 86% say pharmacists should be allowed to provide a vaccine or other medication to protect against COVID-19, when developed;
- 81% agree that pharmacists have a role to play in helping patients deal with COVID-19, and 84% agree that pharmacists have a role to play in helping patients address colds and flu, minor ailments, and management of chronic conditions like diabetes;
- Regarding other recommendations offered by pharmacies amid COVID-19, 74% support pharmacist-provided telehealth services; 77% support allowing pharmacy technicians to handle more administrative tasks so pharmacists have more time for patient-care services; and 79% support helping pharmacists make it easier to get medications through early and emergency refills.
The poll whose results were announced today was conducted between March 26-April 2, 2020, among a national sample of 9,661 Registered Voters. The interviews were conducted online, and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of Registered Voters based on age, educational attainment, gender, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point.
