Good Lifestyle

Store closures have become too common an event since the start of the pandemic. Same majorretail chains like Walmart And Bed Bath & Beyond had to close several stores in the United States in the past three years, although some cuts have been much more dramatic than others. At the same time, two of the country's largest pharmacies channels have also ended the locations this year. Walgreens and CVS had to face several closings of temporary and permanent pharmacies this year, and other locations close their doors. Read the rest to find out why these two pharmacies reduce the availability of the pharmacy and how it could affect your prescriptions.

Read this then:If you get CVS or Walgreens medicines, prepare for this shortage.

In the USAEvolving health care technology Coresight Research currently reported on November 28. According to the company's report, the pharmaceutical industry underwent a digital transformation before the cocovated pandemic blow, but this has accelerated since then.AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

"The world pandemic has provided additional motivation to patients to use digital technologies to manage their health," said Coresight. "Pharmacy giants have expanded their digital presence in order to adapt to changes in consumer behavior and preferences."

In April 2022, Walgreens deployed hisDrone delivery initiative In its first major American metropolitan region. "We already promise a 30 -minute window through our street collection or by our partnership with Doordash", "Amy Woodsaid a director of the Walgreens district in a statement. "With the delivery of drones, you don't have to wait in traffic. The drones are intelligent and will get the customer package much faster. This is the best option for someone who may not have the means to afford 'go to the store."

More recently, in September 2022, CVS acquired theHome health care agency Note health to advance the scope of the delivery of drugs as well. "This acquisition will improve our connection with consumers at home and allows suppliers to better meet the needs of patients while we are carrying out our vision of redefining health care experience", "Karen S. LynchSaid the president and chief executive officer of CVS Health, in a statement.

But this accent on online and delivery services did not come without sacrifices. "Store closings are the standard among the main pharmacies", according to Coresight Research, which said that the reduction in locations has come "at a time when the main retailers increased their investments in digitization and extend their scope in the services of health".

The industry's analysis company indicated that between 2020 and 2021 alone, Walgreens was down more than 50 retail stores and CVS lost more than 20.

Store closings for the two pharmacies channels accelerated until 2022. In November 2021, CVS announced that it would beClosing of 300 locations Each year, for the next three years, because it has hung the digital strategy and implements a "new retail footprint strategy aligned with the evolution of consumer needs". This year, CVS began to close locations in the spring and continued since then. Businesshas closed stores In Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, California, Florida, Texas and Georgia, among other states.

Walgreens, on the other hand, made most of its movements this fall. In October, the company announced aStore of store closings In five states: New York, Kentucky, Florida, Massachusetts and Colorado. But it is only a few of the United States that undergoes closures. In fact, a Maryland store has just been closed on November 15.

"While we are moving on our strategy forDevelop the role of Walgreens As a leader in the provision of health care, we focus on creating the right network of stores in the right places to best meet the needs of communities that we serve ""Karen May, the main director of Walgreens Health Communications, told Southbmore.com the closure of Maryland.

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Your Walgreens and local CVS stores are probably still standing, but that does not mean that things will necessarily remain the same. The two pharmacies channels reduce pharmacy hours in the United States locationshad to close the pharmacies in Berkeley, California, as well as hours in certain places,Berkeleyside recently reported.

"What we see in certain areas is consistent with what many other health entities have known: challenges of tackles due to the national shortage of" "" shortage of labor "Kris Lathan, a spokesperson for Walgreens, told the newspaper in an email. "We continue to take measures to help mitigate these pressures, however, there are cases where we had to adjust or reduce the operating hours of the pharmacy while we work to balance the endowment and the resources on the market for Best to customer demand. "

In Arcata, California,Normal pharmacy hours were also difficult to keep in CVS locations, KRCR ABC-Affiliate reported. "We have encountered unexpected endowment problems in several of our pharmacies in the Eureka region, including our pharmacy in Arcata," a spokesperson for the CVS. "Our teams work hard to serve their patients and we apologize for any delay in service that they may experience."

Permanent store closures have become an important point of contention. Walgreens was accused of having created "pharmacy deserts" by closing several stores in various fields. "This sudden closure of these pharmacies will create pharmacy desertsIn our communities, "Julia Mejia, said a municipal councilor in Boston, at CBS News. "We already have a hard time getting the medical prescriptions we need. Now we are going to find other spaces and places to have access to vital drugs."

But temporary pharmacie closings and cuts also become a problem for some patients.Glen lippincott, a resident of Sciota, Pennsylvania, told ABC-Affiliate Wnep thatHe recently achieved Limited CVS hours extend beyond the pharmacies of its county. "The long expectations for the prescription to be fulfilled, the doctor called the doctor, and then you could go right away and pick up the prescription. And now this does not happen," said Lippincott.

In October, a resident of Topeka, Kansas, said that sheI went to look for prescriptions So that his mother of Walgreens is only greeted by a panel in the window indicating that the pharmacy would be closed for four days,Topeka's Journal reported. "They did not offer any solution to the problem," said the customerAnnie Pinto said to the newspaper. "They had essentially a sign on the door that said:" We are closed, and that's when we reopped ", which frustrated me."

An anonymous client in Berkeley, California, also saidBerkeleyside that it spent a weekend without his daily medicines due to pharmacy reductions in Walgreens. "If they cannot pay to provide their pharmacy, they should not be in business," he told the newspaper, adding that he had sent a complaint to the CEO of Walgreens about the conditions of the pharmacy .

Better life Contacted Walgreens and CVS on closings and reductions in hours of pharmacy, and will update this story with all the answers.