As public outrage and protest over the cost of prescription medicines continues to spread, the specter of “Pharmageddon” – or the potential catastrophic closure of pharmacies – looms on the horizon. This could spell disaster for thousands of pharmacies across the U.S., potentially leaving thousands of customers without access to the medications they desperately need.
The idea of Pharmageddon comes from the ongoing protest of drug pricing practices by private and public entities. In some cases, the cost of certain drugs has increased so high, that it has left many without access to necessary medications. With such limited access to medications, pharmacies across the country are facing a difficult predicament – stay open and be forced to sell needed medications at a loss, or shut their doors for business.
To make matters worse, industry advocates worry that the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act, or the ACA, will further hurt independent pharmacies. Because the ruling allows employers to include religiously-affiliated institutions in their list of healthcare plans, fewer individuals are likely to be enrolled in the ACA – and in turn the pharmacies – meaning less revenue to stay in business.
In response, some states are considering measures to protect their local pharmacies. For example, California officials are looking into emergency regulations that would help curb rising drug costs and acquire medications in bulk, thus helping their pharmacies remain open for business.
The result of all this remains to be seen, and in the meantime, pharmacies are left wondering how they can stay open in the face of Pharmageddon. Unfortunately, it is unlikely they can do so without government and industry support. Therefore, it is imperative citizens stay informed on the issue and speak up to ensure their local pharmacies stay in business to provide them with vital medications.