More than 100 student pharmacists from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy converged on the Capitol for the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA) Pharmacy Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. The students and their faculty advisors helped to “paint” the Capitol white, wearing their identifying lab coats and pushing the importance of “Pharmacists Making It Fair for Local Care.” 270 pharmacy students from the seven schools of pharmacy across the commonwealth and more than 75 pharmacists, walked the halls of the Capitol, participated in the Pharmacy Rally and made more than 145 legislative visits throughout the day.

Participants met individually with legislators or staffers to discuss important issues of the profession focusing on PBM transparency, fair audits and expanded immunization abilities, including permitting trained student interns to provide immunizations under the supervision of an immunizing pharmacist. This valuable opportunity for PPA members to have their voices heard and to stress the importance of issues facing pharmacy today was an important and crucial step in educating legislators about pharmacists and their concerns.

Each of the seven Pennsylvania Schools of Pharmacy also had displays showcasing information on the value pharmacists provide and performed various health related screenings. Information on medication safety and disposal, medication adherence, immunization awareness, hypertension assessment, heart health and blood pressure, hearing tests and carbon monoxide poisoning were displayed in the East Ring Rotunda throughout Pharmacy Legislative Day. The University of Pittsburgh’s table focused on smoking cessation. The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association also arranged for group tours of the Capitol and some special legislative meetings for students.

Leave a comment