When drugstores disappear: Why nearly 15,000 Bostonians live in ‘pharmacy deserts’

When drugstores disappear: Why nearly 15,000 Bostonians live in ‘pharmacy deserts’
Boston Globe; by Diti Kohli, Tiana Woodard, Daigo Fujiwara-Smith, Thomas Lee; 7/25/24
Many of these dead zones overlap with vulnerable communities — already poorer, sicker, and less well-resourced than the rest of the state. Where do patients go? ... Since 2017, at least 26 pharmacies have closed in Boston, and about 200 shuttered statewide, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. State estimates show that a comparable number have since opened, though they rarely serve the same communities. Often left behind are so-called pharmacy deserts, pockets of the city where the majority of residents live at least a half-mile from the nearest drugstore, and lack cars to make the trip. A Globe analysis found that almost 15,000 people in Boston live in such deserts, without a reliable place to go for prescriptions, over-the-counter treatments, and medical advice. Many of these dead zones overlap with vulnerable communities — already poorer, sicker, and less well resourced than the rest of the state.
Publisher's note: While a little dated, this article recently came across my desk and reinforced "new year's discussions" of pharmacy deserts - and hospice deserts. This Health Affairs article is related: Locations and characteristics of pharmacy deserts in the United States: A geospatial study (4/24). More to follow on this in 2025.