APhA Policy Manual

APhA supports the establishment and enforcement of laws, regulations, and policies through Boards of Pharmacy that restrict the use of the words “pharmacy”, “drug store”, “apothecary” or any other words or symbols of similar meaning or signage and business names to entities in which the practice of pharmacy is conducted.

APhA advocates the elimination of coupons, rebates, discounts, and other incentives provided to patients that promote the transfer of prescriptions between competitors.

APhA encourages the listing of all pharmacies in telephone, Internet and other directories under “Pharmacies.”

APhA supports the development of guidelines or standards to enhance the depiction of the pharmacy profession in all public media.

APhA encourages the Federal Trade Commission, the US attorney general or other appropriate agency to investigate misleading and deceptive marketing practices of issuers of discount cards.

APhA supports use of the phrase “community pharmacy” rather than “retail pharmacy.”

APhA opposes the use of the same brand name (or minor modifications of the same name) for prescription and nonprescription drug products containing different active ingredients.

1. APhA supports laws, regulations, and policies permitting direct-to-consumer advertising concerning medical or health conditions treatable by prescription or nonprescription drug products. These advertisements must conform to existing laws, regulations, and policies that ensure complete, comprehensive, and understandable information that informs consumers of potential benefits and risks of the product.
2. APhA opposes false or misleading advertising for prescription or nonprescription drugs or any promotional efforts that encourage indiscriminate use of medication.
3. APhA supports the availability of accurate information to consumers about medication use and recognizes the responsibility of pharmacists to provide appropriate responses to consumer inquiries stimulated by direct-to-consumer advertising as a compensated pharmaceutical service. In addition, APhA recommends that health care professionals, including but not limited to pharmacists, receive new product information on direct-to-consumer advertising campaigns prior to this information being made available to consumers.

APhA does not oppose the dissemination of price information to patients, by advertising or by any other means.