A new study led by scholars at the University of Washington has found that better access to community pharmacies leads to higher and more equitable use of prescription drugs across racial and ethnic groups.
For their study, the authors examined U.S. counties’ share of community residents living within a 10-minute walk or drive of a pharmacy between 2010 and 2023 and linked that data to medication use among residents of different ages and racial backgrounds. According to their analysis, the authors found a 1 percent increase in people living within 10 minutes of a pharmacy was associated with a 0.7 percent higher use of medications. This association was strongest among Black residents, as well as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic populations. Additionally, a 1 percent increase in 10-minute community pharmacy access was associated with a 0.52 percent decrease in racial and ethnic disparities in medication use.
Based on their findings, the authors conclude that disparities in local pharmacy access may exacerbate existing racial inequities in healthcare. Thus, the research team urges policymakers to consider targeted interventions to expand pharmacy access to underserved communities.
In addition to those from the University of Washington, the study included authors from the National Pharmaceutical Council in Washington, D.C., the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle, and the University of Southern California.
