The total number of pharmacies in a given area carries many implications about an area’s access and effectiveness of healthcare services. According to several studies, pharmacy deserts – areas with limited number of proximal pharmacies – are found to have higher rates of chronic disease and poorer medication adherence. These studies attribute health outcomes to various factors including poor continuity of care, access to public transportation services, and longer travel time to access services.

Furthermore, these studies point to lower-income and higher-minority populations as more likely to live in pharmacy deserts, meaning that access to reliable pharmacies is not only a public health issue, but also a socioeconomic and race equity issue. By tracking the availability and accessibility of essential health care services, this measure can support the assessment of underlying causes of disparities and shed light on how improved access to pharmacies can benefit to other disparities associated with race, ethnicity, income, or geographic location. 

Written by Kyra Chan