Pharmacy deserts and the critical need for Medication Delivery within the last mile

In a nation as vast and diverse as the United States, access to essential healthcare services should be a fundamental right, yet for many, it remains an elusive privilege. There’s a health and health systems rankings report from Statista of countries worldwide in 2023 and put of 167 countries, the United State ranked 69th. I was shocked to read this. Singapore dominated the ranking of the world's health and health systems, followed by Japan and South Korea. The health index score is calculated by evaluating various indicators that assess the health of the population, and access to the services required to sustain good health, including health outcomes, health systems, sickness and risk factors, and mortality rates.

Part of the reason the U.S. is lagging behind, based on this data, is the lack of accessibility to medications because of the increasing threat of pharmacy deserts.

The recent research led by Dima Qato, an associate professor at the University of Southern California, sheds light on a troubling reality: pharmacy deserts disproportionately affect marginalized communities, exacerbating existing disparities in healthcare access and medication adherence.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. population was projected to be 335,893,238 at on January 1, 2024, which is a 0.53% increase from 2023. The U.S. is the third largest country in the world by population, with India and China following.

We do not have enough pharmacy services for 340 Million people. This is an issue which will compound with the needs of 18% of our citizens turning 65 in 2024. The age distribution in the United States is shifting. According to 2022 data, nearly 58 million adults ages 65 and older live in the U.S., accounting for about 17.3% of the nation's population. By 2040, that proportion is projected to grow to 22%.

Pharmacy deserts are a serious public health threat.

The term "pharmacy desert" refers to areas where residents have limited or no access to pharmacies within a reasonable distance from their homes. These deserts are not just geographical inconveniences; they are barriers to health and well-being, particularly for those who are unable to leave their homes due to various reasons such as disability, illness, or lack of transportation.

Qato's studies, focusing on both Chicago and 30 other cities across the nation, reveal a distressing pattern: neighborhoods with majority Black and Latin populations are significantly less likely to have accessible pharmacies compared to predominantly White areas. In Chicago alone, a staggering one-third of Black neighborhoods are classified as pharmacy deserts, in stark contrast to a mere 2% of White neighborhoods.

The consequences of pharmacy deserts extend far beyond inconvenience. For individuals reliant on regular medication, the inability to access pharmacies within their communities can lead to non-adherence—a critical issue that contributes to poor health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Longer travel times and distances to pharmacies act as deterrents, often resulting in patients skipping doses or forgoing medications altogether, ultimately leading to preventable hospitalizations or emergency department visits

The urgency of addressing pharmacy deserts cannot be overstated, especially given the ongoing closures of pharmacies in many areas. As these closures continue, the problem of access becomes even more acute, further widening the gap in healthcare disparities.

So, what can be done to bridge this gap and ensure equitable access to medications for all Americans, regardless of their zip code or demographic background?

One promising solution lies in the expansion of medication delivery services. By offering convenient delivery options, pharmacies can reach individuals who are unable to leave their homes, whether due to physical limitations or lack of transportation. This not only enhances accessibility but also promotes medication adherence by eliminating barriers associated with travel and mobility.

Moreover, follow-up support is essential to ensure that patients understand their medications, adhere to prescribed regimens, and address any concerns or side effects they may experience. Pharmacists can play a pivotal role in providing education, counseling, and personalized care, particularly for individuals managing chronic conditions.

Finding the right solutions to common last-mile logistical problems doesn’t need to be as difficult as you may first expect. There are a number of strategies that you can try, including clear lines of communication between pharmacies, suppliers, delivery staff, and patients as well as constantly evaluating your systems and processes to ensure that you are making the best use of all your resources

It’s also wise to think about implementing new technological solutions that can help with things such as optimizing deliveries, and supplies and even recording patient information in such a way that it is easy to access the information you need to be able to automate delivery routes and provide enhanced security for all involved.

Prescription medications are often used to help patients that are suffering from chronic illnesses, whether it be in the form of pain relief or combatting the condition. By utilizing a service that optimizes time-critical logistics, pharmacies can get medications to patients promptly and eliminate the potential delays that could come without the logistics being optimized.

Compare this to how drugs by mail work and you can soon see the difference. With medication delivered promptly to enable patients to begin treatment without interruption, it gives patients a much easier-to-follow medication regimen. By prioritizing urgent deliveries, time-critical logistics minimizes the risk of complications or adverse health outcomes that could otherwise be encountered due to the unavailability of the required medications. Technology such as RxMile enables this and also partners with local pharmacies, local healthcare clinics, and is expanding nationwide

Policymakers and healthcare stakeholders must prioritize initiatives aimed at combating pharmacy deserts and promoting equitable access to healthcare resources. This includes incentivizing the opening of pharmacies in underserved areas, implementing telehealth services for medication consultations, and investing in community-based healthcare infrastructure.

In conclusion, the persistence of pharmacy deserts underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to improve access to medications for vulnerable populations across the United States. By embracing convenience, follow-up support, and delivery services, we can bridge the healthcare gap, empower individuals to take control of their health, and build healthier, more equitable communities for all.

Set a call with Kunal Vyas and the RxMile team today to help your communities today gain better accessibility to your medication delivery & oversight. https://www.rxmile.com/contact/

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