The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association has named Harshil Patel, director of Wakefern Food Corp.’s Pharmacy Division, chair of the association’s Pharmacy Council.
Patel will lead the council’s work on healthcare regulations, retail pharmacy policy and legislative issues affecting grocery pharmacies across Pennsylvania.
Patel joined Wakefern in 2018 after spending eight years as a pharmacist with ShopRite. As director of Wakefern’s Pharmacy Division, he oversees programs and services supporting 151 member-owned pharmacies in independently operated ShopRite and select Fresh Grocer supermarkets across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland.
His responsibilities include pharmacy operations support, regulatory compliance, clinical services and field team coordination. Patel also works with Wakefern’s legal and finance teams and with member pharmacy operators on patient care, immunization services and medication therapy management.
“Harshil’s deep knowledge of retail pharmacy operations and regulatory advocacy makes him an exceptional choice to lead our Pharmacy Council,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of PFMA. “Pharmacy services within retail food stores are a crucial pillar of public health and accessibility across Pennsylvania.”
Patel is a licensed pharmacist and holds a doctor of pharmacy degree and a master of business administration degree. He also is active with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and works with pharmacy associations and other industry groups in the region.
The PFMA Pharmacy Council brings together supermarket and retail pharmacy operators to address healthcare legislation, legislative strategy, scope-of-practice issues and supply chain developments affecting pharmacy departments in Pennsylvania.