Heading into the new year, almost five years after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak first began, the pharmacy industry is amidst some significant changes. Some of the biggest factors in pharmacy in 2025 will include staffing challenges and pharmacist decline, an increase in pharmacy deserts, and consumer habit changes.
Staffing Challenges
The pharmacy industry is currently facing staffing shortages, impacting both the delivery of patient care and pharmacy operations. The demand for pharmacists is increasing, however, the number of pharmacy school applicants is declining. A large portion of the pharmacist workforce is nearing retirement age and contributing to an exacerbated shortage.
Due to the high demand, pharmacists who are in the workforce are experiencing high levels of stress and burnout. The pressure of managing increasingly complex medication regimens, along with administrative duties, have all led to high burnout for these pharmacists. As a result, many pharmacists are leaving the profession or reducing hours due to stress and job dissatisfaction.
What’s the answer to this problem? The industry in 2025 needs to adapt by integrating more technology, expanding technician roles, and exploring new service delivery models to compensate for the decreasing number of pharmacists.
Pharmacy Deserts
Nearly 16 million people in the U.S. don’t have access to a local drug store to fill prescriptions, receive medication advice, and get important vaccines, and these numbers of pharmacy deserts are only increasing.
One factor that has led to pharmacy deserts is economic disparity; low-income neighborhoods lack sufficient profit potential for pharmacies which can lead to closures and policy and regulation changes that impact pharmacy operations. Consolidation of pharmacy chains can also lead to store closures in overlapping markets, leaving certain areas underserved.
Residents with limited access to medications can often experience worsen health outcomes, especially for those with chronic illnesses. To address the increase of pharmacy deserts in 2025, communities must look to innovative options for their pharmacy needs.
Packaging and Delivery Options for Patients
In addition to healthcare staffing challenges and pharmacy changes, consumer habits will continue to evolve in 2025. Pharmacy consumers want options when it comes to receiving their prescriptions. They want everything from a convenient online experience to options on when, where, and how to shop, multiple delivery options, and more.
To meet these consumer needs, pharmacy automation solutions provide support that expands patient care. This automation can also help alleviate the extra workload put on pharmacists and the staffing challenges that will be a part of pharmacy for years to come.
There’s a lot of excitement that comes with a new year, but also a lot of uncertainty. Here at iA, we’re looking forward to continuing to provide innovative solutions for our customers and reaching new heights of growth and prosperity in 2025.