Inequitable health outcomes have been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Minoritized populations are disproportionately affected - being twice as likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19. Several barriers exist in accessing COVID-19 therapeutics including primary care deserts, lack of transportation, lack of digital resources, among others.
To address this, PGWL published a call to action in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas led by Dr. Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir! This publication features a multidisciplinary author group, highlighting the need to build upon federal initiatives such as National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan's "Test-to-Treat" to address some of these barriers. Employing a collaborative approach amongst various healthcare professionals (i.e. pharmacists, physicians, and advanced practice providers) to achieve "pharmacoequity" is key.
It is time for the pharmacy profession to train the next generation of pharmacists to be able to build lasting relationships with a multidisciplinary group and address these barriers.