Independent Pharmacists Fight to Defend North Dakota Law

Debate is raging in North Dakota between independent pharmacists and a group called "North Dakotans for Affordable Health Care." The group - backed by major pharmacy players Wal-Mart and Walgreens, according to the article - argues that a North Dakota labor law is artificially raising prescription drug prices in the state. Big box retailers are currently unable to sell prescriptions in North Dakota because of the law in question.

Spencer Clairmont, a pharmacist at the Prescription Shop in Walhalla, N.D., disagrees with the corporations' assessment. "Their advertisement saying they're the cheapest doesn't square with reality," he says in the article. He cites several studies showing that, contrary to NDFAHC's statement, prescription prices in North Dakota are actually lower than the national average.

Clairmont goes on to explain that price isn't the only factor in the argument over North Dakota pharmacy law. He believes quality of patient care is often much lower at big box chains:

"If you have one pharmacist and a bunch of pharmacy techs, how are you doing patient counseling?" Clairmont said. "Can you spend three or four minutes with a patient, or one minute? People aren't taking their meds, or they're not taking them right. That leads to illness and emergency room visits."

Clairmont is working with the North Dakota Pharmacists Association to stand up for independent pharmacies across the state. For more information, visit http://www.nodakpharmacy.net.

Group lobbies to change N.D pharmacy law [Grand Forks Herald (N.D.)]

Meet Ray F.

My name is Ray Funatsu and I've been a pharmacist since 1963. In '74 I started working as a manager with Sav-on until '94; that's when I stepped down because it got to be a little too much. I worked until 2000 and retired and now I'm on-call.