WHEREAS, Rite Aid has closed or is set to close 20 stores in the City of Philadelphia. Throughout 2023, the company has closed eighteen stores, and six in the last few months of the year alone. The Philadelphia company branch plans to close seven percent of its stores in this initial bankruptcy period, closing stores so far in the First, Second, Fourth, and Tenth Council Districts, also noting they may close additional stores as well. In the 4th Council District, Rite Aid will be closing their locations on the 5400 Block of Lansdowne Avenue and the 100 Block of N. 63rd Street. In addition, CVS also closed a location on the 6500 Block of Haverford Avenue. To obtain their medications, citizens will have to travel to additional Rite Aid locations or, in some cases, other pharmacies; and
WHEREAS, As a result of the increased closures, access to proper care and prescriptions has diminished. Customers were met with unexpected pharmacy closures because of short staffing, unavailable prescriptions, and delayed scheduling. In response to this decline in care, individuals need to take their business to local pharmacies, which are also facing closures in response to increased civil unrest; and
WHEREAS, A multitude of local pharmacies have been forced into temporary or permanent closures due to increased looting, civil unrest, financial issues, etc. Owners of multiple Northeast Philadelphia pharmacies have been forced to close in response to a settlement with the U.S Attorney’s Office. In addition, two pharmacies in the Philadelphia area were ransacked in early September, resulting in the loss of vital customer medication; and
WHEREAS, In late September of this year, the Philadelphia Association of Retail Druggists reported that 15-20 local pharmacies were looted, resulting in them struggling to stay open. Suspects forced their way into a pharmacy on the 100 Block of West Diamond Street, taking handfuls of bags containing a wide range of prescription medication. Before pharmacy owners can begin to replace the necessary prescriptions, they must report all drug thefts to the Drug Enforcement Agency, extending the period by which those whose medication was stolen, can have it replaced; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, senior citizens use about 25-30% of all prescription medications. Which in turn increases their need for a variety of services that are also offered by pharmacies. This includes patient counseling, screening tests, immunization services, and wellness programs. Increased closures have created “pharmacy deserts” in the City of Philadelphia limiting quality care and access for senior citizens to obtain necessary prescription care and information; and
WHEREAS, As a result of the increased closures of pharmacies around the City of Philadelphia, senior citizens lack access to facilities necessary for their health and wellness. As more Rite Aid stores close and local pharmacies are threatened by increased civil unrest, citizens in Philadelphia will continue to lack the resources needed to fill and manage their prescriptions and additional pharmacy health services. Therefore, it is necessary for City Council to examine this issue and uncover the solutions, such as examining urgent cares to address this dire issue; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes the City Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold public hearings to explore the effects of recent Rite Aid and pharmacy closures in Philadelphia, understand the impact this has on prescription access and vital pharmacy health services for senior citizens, and examine the use of urgent care centers to fill the void in prescription care.
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