EPF Newsletter European Pharmacists Forum Newsletter – English edition December 2020 Issue 60

Future-proofing the role of the pharmacist Pharmacies have shown how they can adapt to new ways of working, says , Co-Chief Operating Officer, Alliance. By doing so, pharmacists will secure themselves a future after the pandemic…

“With many parts of Europe re-entering policies, and with many appointments moving problems as health systems struggle to return lockdowns to control COVID-19 outbreaks, towards online systems in place of face-to- to normal levels of activity. pharmacy is showing once again that it is at face consultations, pharmacies have become With their locations in the community and the heart of accessible healthcare. Pharmacy a preferred choice for advice and healthcare. ready access to people who do not consider doors remain open - an even more welcome Personal and accessible, pharmacies are a themselves to be ill, pharmacies can expand the sight in the depths of winter - and pharmacy trusted service for peoples’ health, prescription range of screening services they already offer. healthcare professionals are rightly recognised and wellbeing needs. Not only are they more Being the first point of contact for advice and as essential workers. interested in self-care, but new categories are reassurance, pharmacy’s deep-rooted strength Pharmacy has adapted rapidly to new emerging in personal care, such as sanitisers, and source of trust means we can encourage challenges, and pharmacists have shown how masks and vitamin top-ups, alongside support our customers not to ignore any early or unusual much they can do to support patients when for mental health and better sleep. symptoms, and can help them seek urgent access to other services are restricted. Looking There has also been a record level of demand for treatment for more serious conditions. ahead, we see how pharmacy will be able to play influenza vaccinations this season. In markets Now more than ever, pharmacies need to adapt a more active role in providing local healthcare, where pharmacists are able to administer flu to the new world. With strong competition by offering preventative public health services, vaccines, pharmacy teams have responded anticipated from Amazon Pharmacy, this is a supporting patients suffering from ongoing incredibly, and we continue to see vaccination moment to remind us all, once again, of the symptoms of COVID-19 – often referred to as pilot schemes being extended in many importance of listening closely to what our “long-COVID” – and taking part in testing and countries. We have always said that delivering flu customers and patients want, transforming vaccination systems. vaccinations is the gateway to other extended our offer and providing our patients with This is our chance to consolidate the extra services, now including the large-scale COVID-19 unparalleled pharmacy, health and efforts pharmacy teams have made during this vaccination programmes that health systems are wellbeing experiences. unprecedented year, as well as the dedication embarking on. Pharmacists can play a crucial role in supporting this, from signposting and In this way we will continue to be successful, pharmacists have shown to do the best for their demonstrating our value and how pharmacy patients. We can pave the way for a stronger explaining the benefits, through to vaccine delivery and administration. and pharmacists will be even more at the centre future for pharmacies in the communities of the healthcare system - paving the way for we serve, and in the health systems that It has become clear that COVID-19 has a greater a stronger future.” everyone relies on. impact on patients with pre-existing conditions People are wanting more from their local and poor underlying health. Preventative pharmacies. At a time when it is increasingly programmes to improve the health of the difficult to see a doctor due to closed-door population are crucial to reducing future Ornella

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United Kingdom France

Record demand for flu vaccinations Rapid antigen testing administered in pharmacies in French pharmacies Community pharmacies in England The French government has allowed administered more flu vaccines in the first two pharmacists to administer rapid antigen months of this season than they did during testing for COVID-19. The new test, which the whole of winter last year, responding to a uses a nasopharyngeal swab, detects proteins massive increase in demand from customers created by the virus and provides results concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic. in under 30 minutes. To perform the test, By the end of October 2020, pharmacies the pharmacist needs to be equipped with had administered more than 1.76 million flu personal protective equipment and the vaccines, surpassing the 1.72 million delivered patient must be able to sit down. between September 2019 and February Eligible patients must be 65 or under; 2020. Their busiest day saw a record 73,500 be asymptomatic or have symptoms that vaccinations administered. started a few days before; not be considered The UK government, which encouraged high-risk; unable to get the result of a take-up of the vaccine, has extended eligibility polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within for a free vaccination to more at-risk groups, 48 hours; and have not been identified as ordering additional stocks that can also be part of a cluster or contact case. If the rapid used to treat the 50-64 age group. With antigen test is positive, the patient must get a governments preparing to administer the PCR test to confirm the diagnosis. The full cost forthcoming COVID-19 vaccines as soon as of the service is around 35 EUR. they are approved, pharmacies are now well (Source: Les Journal des Femmes Santé, November 2020) placed to help, especially when more vaccine stocks become available in early 2021.

(Source: PSNC, October 2020)

Spain Italy

Manifesto to support vaccination Report shows that the role of in pharmacies pharmacy during the pandemic has been fundamental The Spanish General Council of Pharmacists Publication Director: (CGCOF) published a manifesto asking the A report on the role of pharmacies and their Ornella Barra government to give pharmacies a bigger relationship with patients and consumers Editors: Rachel Heath role in the primary care system. As with during the COVID-19 pandemic, which Hannah Robinson other countries, pharmacists have been on was published by the civic movement Contributors: the frontline supporting patients during the Cittadinanzattiva in collaboration with the Jonathan Buisson Tricia Kennerley pandemic and have demonstrated that Pharmacist Association Federfarma, they should be better integrated in the highlights that Italian pharmacists played healthcare network. a key role in supporting the population Copyright & throughout the pandemic. trademark notices CGCOF is also asking the government to allow pharmacies to take part in the strategies and From the start of the crisis, pharmacists This newsletter is published on behalf of the European programmes implemented for the screening, were on the frontline helping to combat the Pharmacists Forum by: prevention and early detection of COVID-19, spread of the virus. Now, the report calls including the registration and notification on institutions to rely more on pharmacists 2 The Heights Brooklands, Weybridge of cases. Additionally, the Council believes to support the primary care system by KT13 0NY UK that pharmacists should be trained to administrating antigen testing and vaccines, perform rapid COVID-19 testing, as well as in including flu and anti-pneumococcal. It also Tel: +44 (0)1932 870550 administering COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, recommends that pharmacies are allowed to No part of this publication may be reproduced without in line with other countries. At the very least, dispense drugs that are usually supplied by the permission of pharmacies should be used as a location for public hospitals. Walgreens Boots Alliance Communications. other healthcare professionals to vaccinate. (Source: Federfarma, November 2020) All rights reserved. (Source: Portal Farma, September 2020) © Copyright 2020

2 EPF December 2020 AROUND EUROPE

The Netherlands Czech Republic Germany

New ruling restricts Czech scouts help pharmacies New VOASG law provides a medicines sold by clearer regulatory framework for Czech Scout association, Junák, supermarket pharmacies German pharmacies launched a special programme The Administrative Jurisdiction called ‘Scout Assistance to On October 29, the German Division of the Council of State has Pharmacies’, which provides support Bundestag passed the Pharmacy ruled that supermarkets must have to patients who need assistance in Strengthening Act, with the ambition an assistant chemist in store to sell picking up their medication from of strengthening the role of local certain types of over-the-counter their local pharmacy. pharmacies and the sustainable supply medicines (UAD), such as higher With the supervision of the Czech of medicine. As well as restoring than usual doses of paracetamol Chamber of Pharmacists (ČLnK), the nationwide price control for and ibuprofen. the project allows scout volunteers prescription medicines, the law will The concept of ‘remote pharmacy’ to deliver medicines and medical also introduce new pharmaceutical and a ‘remote chemist’, which can devices to patients who cannot services for patients with statutory provide information to customers receive support from relatives. health insurance, and establish via a telephone or video call, are Medication is picked up directly a 2.50 EUR delivery fee paid by health considered unlawful and a violation by trained scout volunteers who insurers to support local pharmacy of the Dutch Medicines Act. If have been given the necessary delivery services. policymakers want to make remote instructions and information by the The law also creates a framework consultation possible for the sale pharmacist. The service is both free for fair competition by establishing of UAD, they will need to amend of charge and accessible nationwide. a unique pharmacy retail price for the Act accordingly. This ruling will prescription products sold by national impact the retail stores selling (Source: Česká Lékárnická Komora, November 2020) and foreign mail-order pharmacies. UAD medicines. The latter will also need to comply with similar transport requirements as (Source: KNMP, November 2020) national wholesalers when dispatching medicinal products. ABDA, the Federal Turkey Association of German Pharmacists’ Associations, has welcomed the new law as it believes the VOASG provides Portugal Lack of flu vaccines aggravated pharmacies with clearer regulations by the pandemic and more certainty over their future. The Turkish Pharmacists’ Union has Record demand for flu (Source: ABDA, October 2020) vaccination cannot be met warned that current supplies of flu vaccines will not meet this year’s On the first day of the vaccination high demand. The union stated that season, pharmacies faced approximately 10 million vaccine Romania unprecedented demand and doses are still needed, while vaccine broke the record for dispensing supplier companies explained that flu vaccines. 67,000 patients were only around 1.5 million doses have OTC medicine sales rise vaccinated by pharmacists, with been ordered to be delivered by during pandemic demand reaching 21% higher than the end of October. It added the previous year. that supplies of flu vaccines were Pharmacies in Romania saw a rise However, this upward trend was insufficient last year and that the of up to 9.3% in the sale of non- shortly reversed, as data showed situation has been aggravated by prescription medicines throughout that the initial stock of vaccines the COVID-19 pandemic. the year until September 2020. This was largely due to the impacts of the for pharmacies depleted rapidly The surge in demand for flu vaccines Coronavirus on shopping patterns. and was not enough to meet the in Turkey is in line with an increased exponential demand. By the end of demand globally. This is due to However, sales of prescription October, 234,000 patients had been anticipation of a prolonged COVID-19 medicines fell by 10.4% in the same vaccinated in pharmacies, which pandemic, and a two-pronged threat period, with the overall consumption represented 64,000 fewer people for at-risk groups. The country also of medicines dropping 2.1% in volume than in 2019. Although a second remains dependent on imports and 4% in value terms, falling to RON supply of 210,000 vaccines is due to meet domestic flu vaccine 17.4bn (3.66bn EUR) at distribution in the second half of November, demand, despite government efforts prices. The changes are attributed to this will unlikely be enough to to increase local production of patients being more cautious about meet requirements. biological health products. going out during the pandemic period.

(Source: Romania Insider, November 2020) (Source: Revista Saúda, November 2020) (Source: IHS Markit, October 2020)

EPF December 2020 3 FOCUS Highlights from the third EPF meeting of 2020 The European Pharmacists Forum met virtually on October 1, 2020, bringing together leading pharmacists and guest speakers from across Europe. The forum addressed key issues affecting the industry during the pandemic and highlighted the vital work of pharmacies.

J. Walker Smith (Chief Knowledge leading role in fighting COVID-19. Officer, Kantar) presented a study on Juan Guerra (Managing Director, consumer behavioural changes caused International Wholesale) reported that by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the Norway renewed main consequences has been a renewed its contract as sole supplier of hospital desire for human and social interactions. pharmacies. Laurent Bendavid is the new Consumers have also increased their Managing Director of Alliance Healthcare reliance on e-commerce and digital France and has been elected President services, however, anything linked to of the French Wholesalers Association in-person social interactions will last long (CSRP). In Turkey, Alliance Healthcare’s after the crisis period has passed. The study challenges: remuneration for services, recently launched loyalty program and also shared that consumers have become including vaccinations, COVID-19 testing online ordering platform has secured more risk averse when it comes to making and specialty medicines dispensing. 8,500 pharmacists and 23 manufacturers purchases; so reassurance, expertise and However, the individual must stay at the as active members. In Spain, a new accessibility of products and services will heart of pharmacist’s activities. training platform for pharmacists has been be important factors in the future. Tricia Kennerley (VP, Director, created (Alliance Healthcare Academy). The final trend is the greater importance International Public Affairs, WBA) He commended the many new initiatives placed on the public’s health and safety, highlighted the rapid growth in online launched by Alphega, including: the with predictions that many of the consultations in pharmacies and how MyHospital platform in Spain focusing measures put in place as a result of the some German pharmacies are offering on telemedicine, Romania’s campaign to pandemic will become permanent features flu vaccinations for the first time. Where support patients living with dementia and in all countries. Going forward, the public permitted, pharmacies are preparing to the UK’s support for mental health through will demand companies play a greater role be ready to offer COVID-19 antigen and the charity ACTNow. He also reported on in improving society. antibody testing. She gave an update charity support by Alphega Romania and Elisabeth Araujo (Western Europe on Brexit, expressing the hope that an UK, which focuses on dementia carers and Managing Director, L’Oreal) said L’Oréal agreement is reached before the UK leaves mental health. had concentrated on remaining agile in the European Union on December 31. Ornella Barra shared how Walgreens its relationship with pharmacy partners. She warned of the serious consequences surpassed one million COVID-19 tests by The company has also invested heavily in for the pharmaceutical sector should mid-September, and highlighted its drive reacting to trends in consumer behaviour. an agreement not be reached over the to increase capacity, which is echoed She concluded with prospects for 2021, Northern Ireland border, and spoke on the by Boots in the UK. Ms Barra said WBA’s highlighting agility and adaptability as key, issue of the Falsified Medicine Directive, ambition is to capitalise on its experience and stating the need for partnerships which will no longer apply to the UK post- to be ready for when a vaccine is available. with pharmacies and strengthening Brexit, but will continue to be applicable WBA is the largest private vaccinator in the link between online and offline in Northern Ireland. the world, and the Group’s pharmacists business dimensions. Ornella Barra (Chief Operating Officer, can inoculate in the US, UK, Republic of Paulo Duarte (President, EPF) said WBA) announced ’s Ireland, Norway, France, Portugal and that pharmacies have been delivering intention to relinquish the CEO role and Mexico. WBA has unique expertise in more than consumers expected during replace James Skinner as WBA Executive immunizations. She closed by highlighting the pandemic and will emerge stronger. Chairman. James Standley has been Boots UK’s charity partnerships with Hestia In Portugal, pharmacies were the only appointed President of Walgreens. (a charity offering safe spaces for victims healthcare service available throughout In June, WBA announced a new stage in of domestic abuse) and The Hygiene Bank, the healthcare crisis. They guaranteed its strategic partnership with Microsoft as well as Walgreen’s continued partnership patients’ access to specialist medicines and Adobe, which aims to improve with Vitamin Angels. Ms Barra said she while offering many new services, including customer experience. In July, Walgreens was positive about the future of UK partnering with L’Oréal to produce an announced their partnership with pharmacies, and said it was time to ensure online purchasing platform. Mr Duarte said VillageMD to offer healthcare centres in that the incredible services pharmacies pharmacists will have to face four future stores. She also acknowledged Guoda’s offer are recognized.

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