The recently hugely reduced number of pharmacies in many areas of the US—due to more frequently occurring pharmacy closures—is creating a phenomenon known as “pharmacy deserts.” 

Concerningly, pharmacy deserts affect the ability of local communities to access affordable pharmacy resources in their vicinity. This can cause healthcare disparities between socioeconomic groups and, worse, impair the health and well-being of vulnerable Americans. The silver lining? There is hope. Local pharmacists can step in and do their part to assist and support these communities in need. 

Stay with us - as well as discussing the concept of pharmacy deserts, this article will also dive into a discussion on the important role pharmacists can play in supporting affected communities.

What is a "Pharmacy Desert"?

As the term suggests, a pharmacy desert refers to the severe scarcity of available access to local pharmacy resources in certain areas. Like food deserts—a situation in which disadvantaged communities can be drastically affected by a lack of access to healthy and affordable groceries, food sources, and supplies—pharmacy deserts, similarly, also result in a scarcity of available resources in that particular area of need. 

Pharmacy deserts are most often concentrated in specific geographic locations. As a result, the occurrence of pharmacy deserts can dramatically impact the health and well-being of those particular areas’ local communities. Yes, the lack of access to pharmacy resources can have a dire effect on the ability of an affected community to access the medical treatment, care, and pharmaceutical medications they require to be healthy and well. This, in turn, can result in a growing healthcare disparity between various socioeconomic groups - with marginalized, disadvantaged, and lower socioeconomic communities being left particularly vulnerable to poor or declining health and untreated medical conditions.  

So, how do pharmacy deserts occur? In the US, in particular, an overwhelming number of recent pharmacy closures in certain locations has given rise to an increasing pharmacy desert issue in these areas, which is said to be disproportionately affecting vulnerable Americans. What’s the solution? Stay with us as we discuss. 

What is the Solution to the “Pharmacy Desert” Problem? 

One possible solution to the pharmacy desert issue? Licensed local pharmacists must step in and step up to support affected communities. For instance, those who complete an online pharmacy school in Ohio are well-positioned to be able to serve these communities.

How Pharmacists Can Help 

To understand how pharmacists can help solve the pharmacy desert problem, we need to understand what pharmacists do and the important role they play in communities. 

Pharmacists are more than just a friendly smile in a white lab coat - they are also trusted and trained educators and experts - vital resources for community members seeking access to reliable information on treatment for their medical afflictions and health conditions. 

Other ways pharmacists can help local communities who find themselves in pharmacy deserts can be facilitated via these types of valuable support tools and resources:

Mobile Pharmacies

Licensed pharmacists need not be limited to bricks and mortar stores and shopfronts. They can also serve isolated communities by bringing mobile pharmacies to residents who do not have access to physical pharmacies in their local areas. 

Prescription Delivery

As part of the mobile pharmacy service, delivery of prescriptions can also be arranged for remote communities. This way, residents living in isolated areas can still be provided with the pharmaceutical drugs and medications they require. 

Telehealth Services

Finally, the dispensing of eScripts (electronic prescriptions) as facilitated by telehealth appointments can also provide residents of pharmacy desert-affected areas with access to the medications they need. 

The phenomenon of the pharmacy desert is concerning and has the potential to widen already looming healthcare disparities in the US. For vulnerable communities, not having access to local pharmacy resources can impair their overall well-being, prolong health conditions, and lead to a general decline in community health.

The solution? As discussed today, local pharmacists can support remote communities by providing mobile pharmacy services and prescription delivery services, as well as dispensing medications that are prescribed via electronic prescriptions through telehealth appointments.

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