NABP Announces Walgreens Joining Pulse Platform

Rhea-AI Summary

Walgreens (WBA) has joined Pulse by NABP™, a digital platform designed to enhance visibility in the drug supply chain and protect patients from counterfeit medications. This move will assist Walgreens with Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) compliance and ensure its prescription medication suppliers are properly licensed.

The DSCSA, enacted in 2013, aims to improve pharmaceutical supply chain safety and prevent harmful drugs from entering the market. Pulse will help Walgreens verify that only legitimate and authorized trading partners provide medications to its patients.

John Colaizzi, VP of pharmacy practice at Walgreens, emphasized the company's commitment to patient safety. NABP is initially rolling out Pulse to select supply chain users, with plans to offer free registration to all prescription drug supply chain members to facilitate DSCSA-required interoperability.

Positive

• Walgreens joining Pulse platform enhances drug supply chain security
• Assists with DSCSA compliance, potentially reducing regulatory risks
• Helps ensure prescription medication suppliers are properly licensed
• Strengthens protection against counterfeit medications reaching patients

Negative

• None.

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill., Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Walgreens has joined Pulse by NABP™, the new digital platform from National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^®) that will bring visibility to the drug supply chain and protect patients from counterfeit or substandard prescription medications. Walgreens will use Pulse to assist with Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) compliance and to help ensure its prescription medication suppliers are appropriately licensed.

Walgreens will use Pulse to assist with DSCSA compliance and protect patients from counterfeit prescription medications.

DSCSA is a federal law that was enacted in 2013 to improve the safety of the pharmaceutical supply chain and to help prevent harmful drugs from entering the market. The law requires all members of the pharmaceutical supply chain to ensure they are doing business with trading partners that are authorized in accordance with federal law.

Pulse will help ensure that only legitimate and authorized trading partners can provide medications to Walgreens' patients.

"Walgreens is committed to protecting the health and safety of our patients," said John Colaizzi, PharmD, FNJPhA, vice president of pharmacy practice at Walgreens. "Joining Pulse will be an additional DSCSA compliance tool that will help Walgreens ensure that the medications our patients take are legitimate."

"We are pleased to welcome Walgreens to Pulse," said Lemrey "Al" Carter, PharmD, MS, RPh, executive director/secretary of NABP. "Walgreens' participation in Pulse will help to strengthen the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain and help protect Walgreens' patients."

NABP is rolling out the Pulse platform to certain users in the supply chain. After this initial onboarding, NABP will provide free registration on the Pulse platform for any member of the prescription drug supply chain to facilitate interoperability, as required by DSCSA.

Learn more about Pulse and DSCSA compliance at https://pulse.pharmacy.

About NABP

NABP is the independent, international, and impartial 501(c)(3) nonprofit Association that assists its state member boards and jurisdictions in protecting the public health. NABP was established in 1904 to assist the state boards of pharmacy in creating uniform education and licensure standards. Today, we help support patient and prescription drug safety through examinations that assess pharmacist competency, pharmacist licensure transfer and verification services, and various pharmacy accreditation and inspection programs.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is included in the U.S. Retail Pharmacy and U.S. Healthcare segments of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader. True to its purpose of "more joyful lives through better health," Walgreens has a more than 120-year heritage of caring for communities and providing trusted pharmacy services, and today is playing a greater role as an independent partner of choice offering healthcare services that improve care, lower costs, and help patients. Operating nearly 9,000 retail locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Walgreens is proud to serve nearly 9 million customers and patients daily. The company's pharmacists are playing a more critical role in healthcare than ever before, providing a wide range of pharmacy and healthcare services, including those that drive equitable access to care for some of the nation's most underserved populations. Walgreens offers customers and patients a true omnichannel experience, with fully integrated physical and digital platforms designed to deliver high-quality products and healthcare services. Within the U.S. Healthcare segment, Walgreens portfolio also includes businesses in primary care, multi-specialty, post-acute care, urgent care, specialty pharmacy services, population health and provider enablement.

Media Contact: media@nabp.pharmacy

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SOURCE National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

FAQ

What is Pulse by NABP and how does it affect Walgreens (WBA)?

Pulse by NABP is a digital platform that enhances drug supply chain visibility. Walgreens (WBA) has joined Pulse to assist with DSCSA compliance, ensure supplier licensing, and protect patients from counterfeit medications.

How does Walgreens' (WBA) participation in Pulse impact patient safety?

Walgreens' (WBA) participation in Pulse helps ensure that only legitimate and authorized trading partners provide medications to its patients, enhancing overall patient safety and protection against counterfeit drugs.

What is the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and how does it relate to Walgreens (WBA)?

The DSCSA is a 2013 federal law to improve pharmaceutical supply chain safety. Walgreens (WBA) is using Pulse to assist with DSCSA compliance, ensuring they do business with authorized trading partners.

When will NABP make Pulse available to all prescription drug supply chain members?

After the initial rollout to certain users, NABP plans to provide free registration on the Pulse platform for all prescription drug supply chain members to facilitate DSCSA-required interoperability.