A focus on specialty care

In the rapidly-evolving area of specialty pharmaceuticals, one thing remains constant: the crucial importance of pharmacy services to ensure patients benefit from these innovative medicines.That and other key messages were delivered to the more than 300 delegates who attended Neighbourhood Pharmacies of Canada’s Specialty Pharmacy Summit in Toronto in November.The patient journeyAmong the highlights of the fourth annual summit was a panel discussion on “How pharmacy supports the specialty patient’s journey.” Representing such patients was Jonathan Allenger, a volunteer ambassador for MS Canada. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2013, Allenger urged attendees to think of the patient holistically, before the patient’s disease or their treatment. “…when I talk about outcomes, I’m not necessarily talking about disability or disease progression, but also mindset and contributions to society,” said Allenger. The healthcare system is not easy for newly-diagnosed patients to navigate, and understanding the implications of a new disease often takes a while for those patients to absorb and comprehend. Everyone involved in the patient journey with specialty medicines has a chance to help them live a more productive and meaningful life, Allenger added.Jeff Schlotter, director of pharmacy services at Pharmacy Brands Canada said it’s crucial that everyone involved in a patient’s journey is kept well informed along the way—a role often undertaken by the specialty pharmacy team. Allenger agreed, saying that his specialty pharmacy has been a “critical touchpoint” as he goes through life managing his disease.Mark Omoto, general manager, thought leadership, marketing and communications at IQVIA gave a presentation on trends in specialty medications. He noted an emerging trend towards drug formats such as oral and self-administered injections which are more conducive to management in community pharmacy. He also noted that new specialty drugs are emerging for larger patient populations, with obesity, oncology, respiratory disease and the central nervous system (including migraine and Alzheimer’s disease) cited as conditions where growth is expected. Growth is also still strong in psoriasis and dermatology.Read: A patient’s journey: Shedding light on the value of pharmacy services for Canadians taking high-cost specialty drugsAmong other points of discussion at the Summit were the results of an analysis by Neighbourhood Pharmacies and IQVIA Canada to examine the value of services provided by specialty pharmacies. Among the significant factors highlighted by this research is the fact that pharmacies have invested heavily to be equipped to provide specialty pharmacy services, spending as a total up to $700 million in upfront investments and up to $200 million in ongoing costs.More highlights from the Specialty Pharmacy Conference appear in the Neighbourhood Pharmacies’ winter Gazette, published this month.

A focus on specialty care

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