Start Taking Action and Stop Pointing Fingers
This month, I have seen an unprecedented amount of attacks, debates, and discourse in the media and the political theater within the pharmaceutical industry. The attacks have been focused on PBMs and hospitals, but there have also been attacks against retail pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health plans. The attacks have been sensationalized, exaggerated in many cases, and even made personal against some of the people working at these companies. These discussions and arguments have become a battlefield in our industry, fighting over who, not what or why.
I am guilty of this as well; I have attacked the pharmaceutical manufacturers and PBMs with as much vigor as anyone. However, this month I chose to sit back and reflect on what we are trying to accomplish versus what we are actually doing. Rather than addressing the problem at hand, a broken pharmacy ecosystem, we choose to spend our time attacking each other and casting blame at whomever fits the agenda.
It is time to stop pointing fingers and start finding solutions. At SHARx, we believe that a strong cash market and exchange for pharmaceuticals, along with ceasing the utilization of rebates as a form of bribery, are crucial steps in addressing the high cost of brand name and specialty prescription medications in this country. We firmly believe that PBMs and manufacturers must be a part of the solution. We invite all of the stakeholders in our space to work together to help patients and employers afford medications.
You have heard me say, “When Enough is Enough, an Army Shall Rise,” and that time is now. We have formed the Rising Tides Army to fight for our clients and their members in the face of high prescription drug costs. We urge all stakeholders in our ecosystem to come together and help in finding solutions for employers and their employees. Everyone is invited to be a part of the Rising Tides Army and join us in our mission to make all medications accessible and affordable. It is time to start making changes, not debating them. While there may be enormous obstacles to face, by working together, we can overcome them.
SHARx is leading the charge in this mission while remaining dedicated to providing exceptional service and value in the pharmaceutical space. We’re poised to bring new programs, technologies, services, and partners in 2025, to further support our pursuit of a pharmacy system that works for everyone. We would like to invite those who use our services to tell your friends and colleagues about SHARx and we encourage those who haven’t tried our services to contact us.
Long live the fighters.
Drew Crawford
SHARx President
