Nick Fabrizio

Senior lecturer, Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

Nick Fabrizio, senior lecturer of health policy at Cornell University, says there are few options in rural America for access to prescription medications and other supplies.

Fabrizio says:

“The closures of Walgreens locations may lead to pharmacy deserts and will harm both those in rural areas and inner cities. In more urban areas, Walgreens suffers from competition which negatively impacts store profitability. However, individuals who need pharmacies the most will suffer the most. There are relatively few options in rural America for access to prescription medications and other supplies these stores offer. Walgreens also indicated that it will ‘redeploy’ the majority of workers at the closed stores, but the reality is that very few of these workers will be able to relocate.  

“The competitive landscape has evolved with mail order prescriptions becoming more popular and where general items once found in pharmacies can now be purchased through online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and others which has hurt Walgreens core business.”