Innovative program serves as state model to fill health care services

ARCHDIOCESE — In the first full year of operation, the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy has cared for 467 people and dispensed a total of 4,521 prescriptions with a retail value of approximately $381,500. Prescription volume is increasing steadily with approximately 20 percent growth each month since the pharmacy opened.

Three years in the making, the SVDP Charitable Pharmacy, in partnership with Leadership Cincinnati and the Academy of Medicine, is the only pharmacy in southwest Ohio dedicated to providing completely free medication and professional pharmaceutical care to people in need from Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Clermont counties.

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"The St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy is serving as a model for the state and has far exceeded my expectation to help bring free and reduced-cost prescription drugs to Ohio’s neediest populations," said State Sen. Bob Schuler, who co-sponsored the legislation that allows charitable pharmacies to receive drug samples and dispense them as prescriptions. "This innovative, private sector initiative is clearly filling a gap in prescription care to those most in need," he added.

The pharmacy drug list has grown substantially since opening, allowing the pharmacy to fill more than 90 percent of prescriptions presented. Eight physician practices are currently donating pharmaceutical samples, which are being used to fill one-third of the prescriptions. Skilled Care and Keysource Medical donate generic drugs, which are being used to fill approximately half of all prescriptions. Limited purchase of wholesale and generic medications is helping to complete the formulary. In addition, students from the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy are rotating through the Charitable Pharmacy for program credit, while pharmacy alumni, students and even professors are volunteering.

"We could not be this successful without the generosity of our partners, volunteers and donating physicians; however, we need more physician groups and other pharmacy resources involved to continue to serve this population," said Liz Carter, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul. "The Order of Malta provided significant financial support to get the pharmacy open, but as more people struggle to afford prescription medication, the support of the broader community is essential," she added.

Serving as a model for the creation of the SVDP Charitable Pharmacy in Cincinnati, the SVDP Community Pharmacy in Northern Kentucky has been operating for five years and has served 2,300 patients, dispensing more than 123,000 prescriptions with a retail value of more than $7.7 million. Both pharmacies in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are part of a growing national trend with other SVDP pharmacies operating in Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi.

The Charitable Pharmacy is currently accepting financial donations and donations of sample medication from physician offices. For more information or to get involved, contact Mike Espel at the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy, 513-562-8841, ext. 264.