Are there enough pharmacists available in rural America?
According to a 1999 study in the Journal of the American Pharmacy Association, the ratio of pharmacists to population is lower in rural areas, with only 66 pharmacists per 100,000 people, compared to 78 pharmacists per 100,000 nationwide. The Bureau of Health Professions report The Pharmacist Workforce: A Study of the Supply and Demand For Pharmacists states that the supply of pharmacists has not been adequate to keep up with increasing demand, leading to a nationwide shortage in pharmacists. According to a 2001 Journal of Rural Health article, “The Economic Realities of Rural Pharmacy Practice,” rural pharmacists tend to work longer hours than their urban counterparts. Relief coverage for vacation and illness is often difficult for rural pharmacists to find, which can result in overwork or temporary pharmacy closings. This combination of lower wages and longer hours can make it more difficult for rural areas to recruit and retain pharmacists.
