Walgreens store closings raise concern about pharmacy deserts

Residents and healthcare advocates in Milwaukee are expressing concern after another Walgreens location announced it will close its doors, raising fears about reduced access to prescription medications and pharmacy services in neighborhoods that already face healthcare challenges.

The Walgreens store located at the intersection of North 27th Street and West North Avenue is scheduled to close on Tuesday, marking the latest in a series of store closures by the pharmacy chain across Milwaukee.

Customers Worry About Losing a Convenient Healthcare Resource Many customers visited the store in the days leading up to the closure to pick up prescriptions and make final purchases.

Several residents said the shutdown would create additional hardships for people who rely on the pharmacy for medications, health products, and everyday necessities.

Customer Thaliza Brown said the closure would be more than a personal inconvenience, noting that many members of the surrounding community depend on the location for easy access to healthcare services.

Other customers echoed similar concerns, explaining that the store’s central location allowed them to obtain prescriptions without having to travel long distances across the city.

For elderly residents, individuals without reliable transportation, and families managing chronic health conditions, the closure could make obtaining medications significantly more difficult.

Walgreens Cites Ongoing Safety Challenges In a statement regarding the decision, Walgreens said the store has faced persistent safety concerns that have made long-term operation unsustainable.

The company explained that it had invested in various security measures, including hiring private security personnel, in an effort to maintain operations at the location.

Despite those efforts, Walgreens said ongoing safety issues continued to affect the store’s ability to operate successfully.

The company stated that while the North Avenue location is closing, it remains committed to serving Milwaukee through its other stores and plans to continue working with law enforcement agencies, local leaders, and community organizations to improve retail safety throughout the city.

Crime Data Highlights Challenges According to information from the Milwaukee Police Department’s crime log, the area surrounding the Walgreens location experienced 15 reported theft incidents during the past year.

Retail theft and related security concerns have increasingly become challenges for businesses in urban areas across the country, prompting some retailers to reevaluate store operations and security strategies.

While Walgreens did not specifically identify theft as the sole reason for the closure, company officials cited broader safety concerns as a major factor in their decision.

Nearby Pharmacy Preparing for New Patients Less than half a mile from the closing Walgreens, Hayat Pharmacy is preparing to assist customers who will need a new location for their prescriptions.

Dr. Hashim Zaibak, founder and pharmacist at Hayat Pharmacy, said his team is ready to help patients transfer medications and continue receiving uninterrupted pharmacy services.

Zaibak noted that Hayat Pharmacy operates differently from many traditional drugstores.

Rather than having medications and numerous products displayed openly throughout the store, prescriptions and over-the-counter medications are largely secured behind a glass counter.

He believes this setup helps reduce opportunities for theft and creates a safer operating environment.

Concerns About Expanding Pharmacy Deserts Healthcare professionals say the closure highlights a growing national concern known as “pharmacy deserts.”

A pharmacy desert refers to an area where residents have limited or no convenient access to pharmacies, making it harder for people to obtain medications, vaccinations, healthcare consultations, and other essential services.

Zaibak warned that every pharmacy closure can have serious consequences for a neighborhood.

He emphasized that pharmacies serve as important healthcare access points, particularly in underserved communities where residents may already face transportation barriers or limited healthcare options.

According to Zaibak, losing pharmacies can negatively affect medication adherence, routine healthcare management, and overall community health outcomes.

He said he is increasingly concerned about the growing number of pharmacy deserts not only in Wisconsin but throughout the United States.

Prescription Transfers Already Arranged To help ease the transition for customers, Walgreens announced that prescriptions from the North Avenue location will automatically be transferred to another nearby Walgreens store located at 35th Street and Wisconsin Avenue.

The company is also offering free prescription delivery services for 90 days to assist customers who may have difficulty traveling to the new pharmacy location.

Walgreens said these measures are intended to ensure patients continue receiving their medications without interruption following the closure.

Part of a Larger Trend The shutdown of the North Avenue Walgreens is not an isolated event.

It represents the latest in a series of Walgreens store closures throughout Milwaukee in recent years, reflecting broader challenges facing retail pharmacies nationwide.

Industry experts point to a combination of factors affecting pharmacies, including rising operating costs, staffing shortages, changing consumer habits, reimbursement pressures, and security concerns.

As more locations close, community leaders and healthcare providers are increasingly focused on ensuring residents maintain access to essential pharmacy services and prescription medications.

For many Milwaukee residents, the closure of the North Avenue Walgreens serves as another reminder of the growing importance of addressing pharmacy access before more neighborhoods become underserved healthcare areas.

Walgreens store closings raise concern about pharmacy deserts

Comments