The CVS tobacco decision is no small thing — Keep the chips and soda please

Yesterday, CVS Caremark announced that its 7600 stores will stop selling tobacco products. Company leadership said that selling tobacco is not consistent with being a health company. This decision, which takes effect in October 2014, will result in 2 billion less revenue. I am no business person, (though, as an observer of humans, I follow business news), but giving up 2 billion dollars in revenue seems like a bold and courageous move. Forbes journalist Matt Herper explains the business aspects. He teaches us that CVS’ model is changing. Not only are pharmacies like CVS turning into health care delivery portals, with Minute-clinics staffed by physician extenders, but also, the company plans greater partnerships with hospitals and health systems in the future. You can see why selling tobacco doesn’t fit in a health model. Praise was near unanimous. President Obama, Michal Bloomberg, the AMA, the American Society and many other health organizations offered high fives. My Twitter feed buzzed with kudos. My thoughts on the decision are similar. I think it’s a pretty amazing call, especially if it nudges other pharmacies and grocery chains to follow suit. Cigarettes and other tobacco products are special. In the category of damage done to humanity, they reside in a class by themselves. Everyone knows that smoking kills. Smoking causes irritable endothelium, sticky platelets and promotes plaque buildup in the arteries to all organs. Promoting diffuse blood vessel...
Source: Dr John M - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: blogs