Pharmacy closures, medication shortages threaten medication access in the US

The news: Pharmacy chain closures and drug shortages across the US are disrupting patients’ ability to get needed medications, according to a new survey from Wolters Kluwer Health. 1,002 US adults were surveyed in July 2024.

How we got here: Nearly 3,000 retail pharmacy stores across three chains—CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid—are closing their doors. 88% of consumers purchase their prescription drugs at an in-store pharmacy, per an April 2024 survey from M3 MI.

Digging into the data: 59% of consumers are worried about getting medications at a nearby pharmacy in the wake of pharmacy closures.

• Only 9% of respondents said they aren’t at all concerned about getting medications at a nearby pharmacy.
• This is a greater concern for consumers with a child in the household (67%) than for those without one (55%).
• Pharmacy closures are causing more anxiety among folks living in urban areas (67%) than suburban (56%) and rural areas (54%).

Yes, and: Drug shortages are also causing medication access issues for some patients.

• 32% said that shortages have either somewhat (25%) or significantly (7%) affected their ability to get their prescriptions.
• 12% of people who have been affected by shortages noted they have not received any medications in the past year.

Why it matters: Consumers who regularly take multiple medications (about one-third of survey respondents take at least three) are the most likely to be impacted by pharmacy closures and medication shortages. Plus, more than half (52%) of respondents are concurrently dealing with their prescription drug costs increasing over the last few years.

Put all together, there is a significant burden on many patients who are left searching for a nearby pharmacy that has their medication in stock at a reasonable price.

Is there a solution? There are no quick fixes to improve medication supply issues or pharmacy closures.

However, drugmakers and pharmacies can endorse a range of digital features and services to help patients more effectively manage their prescription refills and find where their medications might be available at the lowest price.

• For example, 44% of respondents have used a coupon site such as GoodRx for prescriptions.
• Nearly half (48%) of consumers are open to using AI chatbots to answer questions about their prescriptions. This could include inquiries about pharmacy location or drug availability.
• 74% would use QR codes for automated medication refills, in turn freeing up time for technicians at short-staffed pharmacies.

This article is part of EMARKETER’s client-only subscription Briefings—daily newsletters authored by industry analysts who are experts in marketing, advertising, media, and tech trends. To help you finish 2024 strong, and start 2025 off on the right foot, articles like this one—delivering the latest news and insights—are completely free through January 31, 2025. If you want to learn how to get insights like these delivered to your inbox every day, and get access to our data-driven forecasts, reports, and industry benchmarks, schedule a demo with our sales team.