Disease Is the Enemy; The Patient Is Waiting

SUMMARYThis paper describes the mutual origins and shared history of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmacists had major roles in the origin of today's pharmaceutical companies, and many industry professionals have held leadership roles in pharmacy associations and helped build the profession. As the relationship evolved, published accounts describe conflict between the two parties, often over their respective responsibilities to stakeholders. It can be argued, however, that the conflict often revolves around competing payment incentives and artifacts of a system of health care delivery and financing recognized as inefficient. Instead, pharmacy and industry should be fighting the real enemy, disease. Efforts should focus on innovating care and aligning payment and recognition incentives with new prescription medicines and pharmacist services.