The wave of pharmacy closures across the U.S., including central Indiana, is raising concerns about access to essential medications, creating pharmacy deserts and impacting vulnerable populations. In Indianapolis, pharmacies like CVS and Rite-Aid have shut down, with over two dozen closures in just the past four years.
As more locations close, people like Anthony Beverly, who helps his grandmother with prescriptions, find themselves traveling farther to pick up medications. Experts, such as Dr. Veronica Vernon of Butler University, highlight the emergence of pharmacy deserts—urban areas with no pharmacy within two miles.
The problem extends beyond convenience; there are worries about prescription shortages due to fewer locations handling higher demand. Dr. Tracey Wilkinson from Indiana University School of Medicine warns about the risks if patients can’t access medications in a timely manner.
Walgreens cited shrinking reimbursements, rising operational costs, and customer shifts to online retailers as reasons for the closures, with 500 stores expected to shut down by 2025.
Healthcare professionals and pharmacy advocates are calling for legislative action to ensure fair reimbursements and keep pharmacies open. Without intervention, the situation could exacerbate healthcare inequities, especially in underserved communities.