Neighborhoods made up mostly of racial and ethnic minority residents have fewer pharmacies than predominantly white neighborhoods, and many of their residents visit pharmacies in other parts of town, according to a national study published Oct. 2 in JAMA Network Open. Predominantly white neighborhoods had 15% more pharmacies per 10,000 people.
The research, led by Boston University School of Public Health, arrives as pharmacies continue to close. The Boston University release on the study notes that more than 7,000 U.S. pharmacies have closed since 2019, driven by thin profit margins, reduced reimbursement rates for medications, and a workforce shortage.
