On September 1st Walgreens company announced that they will produce Walgreens brand diclofenac gel. This gel can be used in case of muscle pain, or as arthritis pain relief in topical form. Also, Walgreens brand diclofenac would sell in Walgreens stores as over-the-counter, besides every patient can be consulted by pharmacists who received specialized training in “providing empathetic care and personalized pain management solutions.”
“Our comprehensive pain training, combined with an assortment of innovative pain solutions, ensure patients receive personalized, empathetic care from our pharmacists based on each patient’s situation, pain type and history,” said Rina Shah, group vice president, specialty and retail pharmacy operations, Walgreens. “In addition to pain management, our pharmacists receive specialized training to help patients manage a number of chronic conditions, including diabetes and mental health. During a time when community care is more important than ever before, patients can rest assured that their local Walgreens pharmacy is a trusted resource for the support, expertise and products they need.”
According to Walgreens statement, all their pharmacists were specially trained, in these trainings they taught how to empathetically engage with patients and offer them comprehensive, personalized options. Need to be said that these trainings were created in collaboration with Global Healthy Living Foundation, which help people with chronic diseases.
30,000 Pain Consultations
Since December 2019 pharmacists already consulted about 30.000 patients with pain.
“Pain is very personal and can be very isolating,” said Seth D. Ginsberg, co-founder and president of the Global Healthy Living Foundation. “Patients now have a caring, trained healthcare professional in their community Walgreens pharmacy to turn to for help navigating their pain.”
This consultation can be as in-store, and also over the phone, and through Pharmacy Chat online or in the Walgreens app. “Pharmacists discuss several solutions, including OTC medications, non-pharmacologic options, specialty medications, and vibration and light therapies to explore different ways to deal with pain,” – according to Walgreens.
The main slogan of this product is that Walgreens gel had the “same active ingredient as Voltaren but at a better price.”
23% of Adults In the USA Have Athritis
In the United States, 23% of all adults—over 54 million people—have arthritis. The annual direct medical costs are at least $140 billion. According to CDC, – “The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Other forms include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Symptoms of arthritis are pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling in or around the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can affect multiple organs and cause widespread symptoms. Sixty percent of US adults with arthritis are of working age (18 to 64 years).
Arthritis can limit the type of work they are able to do or keep them from working at all. In fact, 8 million working-age adults report that their ability to work is limited because of their arthritis. For example, they may have a hard time climbing stairs or walking from a parking deck to their workplace.”
Walgreens announced, that patients can get the gel online, in the store, or in the Walgreens app.
