Not that long ago there were three large commercial pharmacies located within the boundaries of Albuquerque’s International District — Walmart, CVS and Walgreens — including a small independent one, Phil’s Pills. Today, only Phil’s Pills remains. The effect for residents seeking to fill prescriptions has become a problem with potentially dire consequences.
“For some folks, it’s actually life-threatening if you can’t get your insulin or your blood pressure meds,” said Janus Herrera, a health promotion specialist at Albuquerque’s Health Equity Council who has studied the issue.
The low-income International District is now considered an urban “pharmacy desert,” with more than 25,000 residents unable to access a pharmacy within a reasonable walking distance.
While the term “food desert” has been in the public consciousness for decades — areas where it is difficult or impossible to buy quality fresh food — the pharmacy desert is a newer phenomenon. Analysts say it emerged between 2009 and 2015 when one in eight U.S. pharmacies closed — mostly independent pharmacies in low-income areas with underserved populations like the International District.
The recent closures of Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens have left some residents scrambling. While the reasons for the closures were never fully disclosed by company officials, there’s speculation that profit loss from shoplifting and a perceived lack of police presence were contributors.
“We now have this massive pharmacy desert,” Herrera said.
The city defines the International District as bounded by the boulevards of Lomas to the north, Gibson to the south, Wyoming to the east and San Mateo to the west.
Herrera said her analysis shows that older adults are the most affected, along with those with disabilities, or those who are precariously housed or experiencing homelessness. She said some residents don’t own vehicles (or aren’t able to drive) and can’t afford ride-sharing services. In addition, home delivery is often not an option for those without a stable mailing address.
“The International District has the largest concentration of transit-dependent residents in the state,” Herrera said, including high densities of residents in a low socioeconomic status, particularly east of Louisiana Boulevard. “It’s the largest and most vulnerable population.”
Herrera gave public comment on the International District’s lack of pharmacies at the May 6 Albuquerque City Council meeting and handed out a one-sheet policy paper on the issue to city councilors.
The Health Equity Council issues quarterly policy recommendations to city and Bernalillo County leaders. It is funded by the county and is a partner with the city of Albuquerque’s Health, Housing & Homelessness Department.
Impacts, consequences
Herrera stressed that the effects of living in a pharmacy desert can be severe.
Limited access to prescriptions means people end up skipping doses or taking a lower dose, and that can cause long-lasting health issues, increased hospitalization rates and death. Additionally, treatment costs become higher on average.
Herrera said she’s talked to older adults who are impacted because they are no longer able to drive.
“They said they used to walk to Walmart because that was their pharmacy,” she said. “Then they had to walk a couple more blocks to Walgreens, but it closed. I’ve talked to individuals who have delayed getting prescriptions because they keep getting shuffled from place to place.”
Walmart closed in March 2023 followed by Walgreens just months later. CVS announced that it was closing its International District location in 2019.
Next week, City Desk ABQ looks at potential solutions for the prescription desert from the Health Equity Council and others, including ways the city might help.
Long before COVID, I moved my scripts over to John’s Pharmacy from Walgreens (Central & San Mateo) as I want to support locally owned businesses. I could not be happier and really don’t miss the larger Walgreens & CVS. It is a tad further away but but we’ll worth the effort.
Phil’s Pharmacy is on Lomas in the 5000 block. Smith’s Pharmacy is closer on the 6000 block of Lomas. The Walgreens and John’s Pharmacy (just east of wyoming) on Central are accessible by taking the central bus east! I’ve lived on the 100 block of Tennessee between central and Zuni since 2005 right behind the old fair and Square Market. Being a patient of the UNM Southeast clinic as my PCP I can stand on my porch and see my doctor’s office on Texas along with the pharmacy.
Just a little correction. That CVS Pharmacy was on Central and Louisiana. There was also one Walgreens that moved down to the other side of San Mateo. You forgot to mention the UNM Southeast clinic pharmacy which is on Texas about one block from where I live and right about halfway between Wyoming and Pennsylvania. Also a little bit east of Wyoming there is a John’s Pharmacy on Central.
The closest grocery and pharmacy to the international district that i know if it’s the smitgs at Lomas and San Pedro. Unfortunately, for people workout cars who live south of Central, there’s no easyx way to get there by bus. I wrote the city councilor this week along that the city st up a bus route from gibson to uptown along San pedro. This would make both groceries and pharmacy readily available.
You’re right you’d have to take the Louisiana bus to Lomas and then the Lomas bus to San Pedro to get to that Smith’s store although there are a lot of buses that go to Uptown none that would get you close to the Smith’s store except that Lomas bus! Of course if you lived on Central you could take the central bus to the Walgreens on San Mateo or the Walgreens or John’s Pharmacy on Central east of Wyoming or even the Smiths at Tramway by taking one bus and then if you get Healthcare at the UNM Southeast clinic on Texas and Central they have a pharmacy
Yes, accessibility of pharmacies and groceries is going to depend on where you are coming from, I suppose. It seems like the city could help the accessibility issue by carefully planning and adjusting bus routes with food and medical access in mind. I hope the city conducts a timely review of bus routes.
What an awful situation.????
John’s pharmacy right there at Central and general stillwell