The Baltimore Banner, April 26, 2023, Clara Longo de Freitas and Ryan Little
A Baltimore Banner data analysis found majority-Black and majority-minority neighborhoods have a slight disadvantage in access to pharmacies compared to mostly white communities.
Pharmacies play a multifaceted role in communities. In addition to selling over-the-counter medications and dispensing prescriptions, pharmacies serve as access points for customers to seek preventive care for viruses, chronic illnesses and sexually transmissible diseases. Their important role was underscored by vaccination efforts in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dima Qato, an associate professor and director at the University of Southern California school of Pharmacy.