Latino, Black neighborhoods across the U.S. see less access to pharmacies compared to other groups

Pharmacies across the U.S. have rapidly closed over the past year, leaving minority communities with little access to public health services. (Credit: AFP)

NEW YORK CITY - In cities across the U.S., major retail as well as independent pharmacies have closed hundreds of stores over the past few years, leaving communities of color with less access to public health care services, a new report by the Associated Press shows.

The report, which looks at licensing data from 44 states, the National council for prescription Drug Programs and the American Community Survey, shows that neighborhoods with majority Black and Hispanic residents have fewer pharmacies per capita than mostly white neighborhoods.