How Pharmacy Advocacy Is Inherent in Pharmacist Duties

In an operational pharmacy landscape spreading pharmacists thinner and thinner as their practices evolve, many individuals in the workforce may believe they do not have the time to advocate for systematic change and reform in their profession. However, according to experts, the pharmacist’s general day-to-day functions, duties, and interactions may be all the advocacy a single pharmacist needs to garner.

“Every little thing counts when it comes to legislation and advocacy anymore,” Scott Stoll, CEO of Moreland & Devitt Pharmacy in Illinois, told Drug Topics®. “We all have to lean on each other, and that's the key, to build this web of all of us working together, where we're all linked together. I think that helps those people that are spread thin for those of us that maybe have a little bit more on the resource side that can make a strong push.”

Displaying a voice that is heard on a high level across health care is one thing the pharmacy profession has been in dire need of. From PBM reform in 2026 to gradual expansion of scope of practice, advocacy has catapulted the pharmacy profession forward, but the job is far from complete.

In this week’s episode of the Over the Counter podcast, we welcome Stoll and his colleague, Kenzie Hohman, PharmD, national vice president of community pharmacy solutions at Cencora. In part 1, they explore the general basis of advocacy efforts in pharmacy today, explaining how burnt-out pharmacists can still advocate regularly and how connectivity throughout health care will drive these initiatives forward, among many other expert insights.

READ MORE: Research Shows Motivations Behind the Pharmacy Workforce Exodus | APhA 2026

Stay tuned for more content from our interview with Stoll and Hohman throughout this week, concluding with the full-length podcast episode releasing Thursday afternoon.

Ethical Mandates and Daily Practice

Advocacy is not merely an extracurricular effort; it is structurally embedded in the professional standards of the pharmacy discipline. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Code of Ethics explicitly binds pharmacists to serve societal needs, while the APhA Oath of a Pharmacist mandates advocating for changes that improve patient care.^1,2

According to National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) experts, this mandate translates directly to daily actions in the workplace. True advocacy is often quiet, occurring when a professional questions an unsafe workflow, shares staffing concerns, or proposes minor store-level adjustments to protect patients.¹

Every professional holds the power to spark a ripple effect that ultimately strengthens patient safety and elevates the entire clinical care team.

Combating Financial Erosion and Pharmacy Deserts

This professional dedication faces severe headwinds from escalating financial constraints. Peer-reviewed data reveals that nearly 30% of retail pharmacies in the US closed between 2010 and 2021, driven by declining reimbursement and rising operational overhead.³

For independent pharmacy owners, these pressures force a difficult tightrope walk between maintaining clinical quality and achieving business sustainability.

In our discussion with Hohman and Stoll, they warned that losing these vital community touchpoints creates pharmacy deserts, where vulnerable populations completely lose contact with medication experts.³

Furthermore, PBM activities disrupt the broader ecosystem, forcing organizations like APhA to lobby for increased reimbursement transparency and regulatory reform.⁴

Breaking Barriers to Clinical Care

The ultimate goal of unified advocacy is to enable professionals to practice at the absolute height of their clinical training.^1,5

Historically, grassroots efforts have secured crucial victories, such as collaborative practice agreements. Yet, restrictive state regulations still impede patient care. For instance, New York pharmacy professionals remain legally barred from performing simple diabetes finger pricks or administering hepatitis immunizations, even when these services would directly benefit the patient.^2,5

By mobilizing collectively to support provider status legislation, such as recognizing clinical services under Medicare Part B, pharmacists can dismantle these barriers. As Hohman and Stoll conclude, starting with small, collaborative steps builds the necessary momentum to preserve community care.^1,3,4

READ MORE: Advocacy in Action: How Community Pharmacists Can Drive Change

REFERENCES

1. Speaking up: why your voice matters in pharmacy practice. National Pharmacy Technician Association. June 22, 2025. Accessed August 28, 2026. https://cpht.org/speaking-up-why-your-voice-matters-in-pharmacy-practice/

2. Little J, Ochten HV. A pharmacist’s obligation: advocating for change. Milne Library. Accessed August 28, 2026. https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/publichealthforpharmacy/chapter/a-pharmacists-obligation-advocating-for-change/

3. Bollinger M. Financial challenges for independent pharmacies and the cost to patient care. N C Med J. 2025 Jul 30;86(2):142355. doi: 10.18043/001c.142355

4. Key advocacy issues. American Pharmacists Association. Accessed August 28, 2026. https://www.pharmacist.com/Advocacy/Issues

5. Voyer K. Advocacy: an essential skill for the modern pharmacy student. University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2020. Accessed August 28, 2026. https://pharmacy.buffalo.edu/news-events/publications/enotes/2020-spring-enotes.host.html/content/shared/pharmacy/articles/student-articles/2020/advocacy--an-essential-skill-for-the-modern-pharmacy-student.detail.html