- Rep. Ayanna Pressley accuses Walgreens of discriminating against Black and Latino communities by closing a store in a predominantly minority neighborhood in Massachusetts.
- The closure of pharmacies in communities of color perpetuates issues of racial and economic discrimination, exacerbating pharmacy and food deserts.
- Walgreens attributes the closures to operating costs, low prescription volume, and low reimbursement rates, but offers assistance to customers during the transition and expresses a willingness to address barriers to pharmacy operations in communities.
Additional Coverage:
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) has accused Walgreens of discriminating against Black and Latino communities after the company announced the closure of a store in a predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood in Massachusetts. Pressley claimed that the closures have serious consequences for the affected communities, depriving them of essential items like baby formula, diapers, and medication, as well as job opportunities. Walgreens previously announced the closure of 150 locations nationwide due to lower earnings. However, Pressley and other Massachusetts lawmakers sent a letter to Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth expressing concern that the closures were predominantly occurring in communities of color.
The lawmakers argued that the closures exacerbate issues of racial and economic discrimination, perpetuating pharmacy and food deserts and limited access to transportation. A study conducted by the University of Southern California in 2021 found that Black and Latino neighborhoods in 30 U.S. cities had fewer pharmacies compared to white and diverse neighborhoods from 2007 to 2015. Pressley expressed outrage over the latest closure in Roxbury, Massachusetts, which she claimed is 85 percent Black and Latino, questioning why there was no community input or adequate notice provided to customers.
Walgreens responded to the concerns, acknowledging the challenges posed by the current operating environment and their financial performance, which led to difficult decisions such as store closures. The closure in Roxbury was attributed to factors such as operating costs, low prescription volume, and low reimbursement rates. Walgreens stated that they informed customers of the closure on January 1, with signs posted around the store. They later pushed back the closure to January 31 and sent another alert to customers on January 29. The company also offered options to assist customers during the transition, including prescription transfers and free same-day delivery for 90 days.
Walgreens expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the closures, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring a smooth transition for customers and employees. They stated that they are willing to work with elected leaders to address barriers that hinder pharmacy operations in communities across the country. The company’s spokesperson said they appreciate the concerns raised by Pressley and other stakeholders.
This article was updated at 4:18 p.m. For more news, weather, sports, and streaming video, visit The Hill.