CHICAGO (AP) - In an effort to increase pharmacy accountability and ensure public safety, Governor Bruce Rauner is calling for stronger regulations for pharmacy consultations in Illinois.
The governor said an investigation conducted by the Chicago Tribune (https://trib.in/2j14dGf ) reveals flaws in the state’s current pharmacy system that puts patients at risk.
The investigation, published in December, found that 52 percent of 255 independent and chain pharmacies tested sold potentially dangerous drug pairs to reporters without a warning.
“Our team conducted an immediate review to find out what pro-active steps state government could take to address those gaps,” Rauner said in a statement.
The proposal submitted to the Illinois Register would demand pharmacists to advise patients about risky drug combinations and other important issues when changing a prescription or purchasing a medication for the first time.
Currently, state law only requires a pharmacist to offer recommendations to a patient at the cash register, with a brief inquiry, such as, “Any questions for the pharmacist today?”
Rauner also plans to increase state oversight, including directing inspectors to place more emphasis on adverse drug reactions and launching a “mystery shopper” program to test how well pharmacists comply with the law.
Rauner said he’d like to seek input from pharmacists and other health care providers on methods to protect patients at a time when many people use multiple prescription drugs obtained through various pharmacies and doctors.
Raunder said the package of initiatives, which are expected to be announced Tuesday, represents “commonsense changes that we can quickly implement to ensure that pharmacists are able to carry out their important work while protecting the people of Illinois from adverse drug reactions.”
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Information from: Chicago Tribune, https://www.chicagotribune.com
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