AMERICA'S National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) is urging independent pharmacies to band together in local networks to provide "enhanced services" to their patients.
Speaking during the NCPA Annual Convention in New Orleans, ceo B. Douglas Hoey highlighted services such as "true same day home delivery," the use of DAAs to encourage better adherence, and immunisations.
He said independent pharmacies provide "better cost savings and better health outcomes" than the large pharmacy chains in the US.
Hoey also released the results of the annual NCPA Digest, which gives an overview of independent community pharmacy in the USA for 2015.
The report found the number of independent pharmacies had declined slightly, from 22,478 to 22,160 during the year.
The average independent community pharmacy location dispensed 60,493 prescriptions annually (194 per day), down from 197 per day the prior year.
81% of the independent pharmacies offer medication therapy management, while two thirds also provided vaccinations.
The convention also saw Deanne Mullins from Florida named as the new president of NCPA.
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