Memorandum of Understanding
Representatives of Oregon State Pharmacy Association, Oregon Society of Health System Pharmacists, Conference of Local Health Officials, Oregon Board of Pharmacy, Oregon Public Health Division and others from the public health and pharmacy communities partnered to develop this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Pharmacies and Local Public Health Authorities. In this grass root effort, partnerships continue to expand to protect the whole community, break down barriers and ensure access to medications for Oregonians during emergencies.
Purpose: During many incidents affecting the public’s health, pharmacies can play a critical role in effective response. The memorandum of understanding provides a framework for timely, effective pharmacy response to public health incidents.
Pharmacies can:
- Distribute and dispense vaccine during communicable disease outbreaks,
- Dispense antibiotics for treatment or prevention of illness during outbreaks,
- Assess and meet needs for medication among those displaced by storms or other incidents, and
- Expand healthcare capacity in a public health emergency by managing therapy for specific conditions under a state-issued treatment protocol (ORS 431.264).
MOU and Related Documents
| What the MOU can do: | What the MOU cannot do: |
|---|
| Standardize response across Oregon communities | Require participation by signatories. |
| Provide structure to simplify Pharmacy-Public Health Collaboration | The MOU is not a contract |