Inman, South Carolina — From medications to milkshakes, Kempson Rexall Pharmacy has been a staple in the small community of Inman, South Carolina since 1905. The nearest hospital is about a half-hour drive away, so when A family medical time, many of the town’s 3,200 residents often call here first.
“This store means a lot to this community,” said owner and pharmacist Marianne McElveen. “Our customers are extremely loyal. They love us. They love the personal feeling they get, the attention they get.”
But like many independent pharmaciesthis one needs a dose of hope.
In the United States, at least 7,000 pharmacies have closed since 2019, the Associated Press reported, citing data from the University of Pittsburgh. Of these, about half were independent pharmacies.
“We’ve had to make some adjustments, some changes. We’ve had to reduce some hours, doing everything we can to stay alive and keep the doors open,” McElveen said, adding that “there have been many sleepless nights. “.
Large pharmacy chains are not immune either. Walgreensfor example, reported an $8 billion loss last fiscal year, according to the company.
Lori Trudell, a professor at Clemson University, says pharmacy deserts have become a crisis in the United States
“When you think about the thousands of pharmacies that are closing in rural communities, we are losing access to all health care,” Trudell said.
In the back room of McElveen’s, the pharmacy itself, profit margins have fallen to between 3 and 5 percent.
“Particularly expensive brand name drugs, we refill them and may not get reimbursed even at our expense for those drugs,” McElveen said.
The National Community Pharmacists Association has predicted that on average more than one independent pharmacy will close its doors per day in 2024.
“It’s sad to me that this part of America, this part of business, is disappearing. We’re not going to throw in the towel. We’re in it, we’re in it for the long haul,” McElveen said .
Marc Strassmann
