Category: Access to Medicines in Vulnerable Populations

ABC Action News Tampa Bay, February 22, 2022 By  Chris Stewart “A pharmacy desert is a neighborhood where the majority of the population lives more than a mile or a half a mile–depending on their income and vehicle ownership–from their nearest pharmacy in urban areas,” said University of Southern California associate professor Dima Qato. Qato…Continue Reading Pandemic highlights importance in fighting ‘pharmacy deserts,’ especially in communities of color

AACP, February 14, 2022 By Jane E. Rooney As pharmacy deserts proliferate, more must be done to examine barriers to access and prepare future pharmacists to address the needs of underserved communities. The term “pharmacy deserts” is popping up with greater frequency as pharmacy closures become more widespread and independent pharmacies struggle to survive in…Continue Reading Access for All

Fortune, December 22, 2021. By Markian Hawryluk and Kaiser Health News Like other community pharmacists nationwide, Muldrow has seen private insurers steer his customers toward their own allied chain, mail-order and specialty pharmacies. Urban independent pharmacies, particularly those in low-income Black and Latino communities, have been more likely to close than chain drugstores. “There’s really no financial…Continue Reading One Chicago pharmacy avoids creating another drugstore desert by tapping into its deep roots

Public Health Post, December 2, 2021. Pharmacies are an important part of the health care system because they dispense prescription and over-the-counter medications and increasingly provide preventative services, including Covid-19 testing and immunization. However, geographic access to pharmacies varies throughout the US, especially in segregated American cities. Disparities in pharmacy access impact medication adherence, or…Continue Reading Pharmacy Deserts Hinder Medications Access in Segregated Black and Latino Neighborhoods

NPR Morning Report, November 19, 2021. Caroline Champlain– CVS says it is planning to close about 900 stores over the next three years, starting in 2022. The company says it’s an effort to review the retail side of its business, and focus on more health care services. But when it comes to choosing which stores…Continue Reading What do CVS store closures say about the future of pharmacies?