Walgreens doubles down on robots to fill prescriptions amid turnaround
RiteAid is in bankruptcy for the 2nd time. Walgreen’s has its own troubles. CVS merged with an insurance company. The traditional local pharmacy is largely gone – and the chain stores are under threat from PBMs, and stores like Walmart and grocery chains that have added pharmacy departments, plus new online pharmacy options. (I am currently filling a prescription from an approved, licensed pharmacy in Canada.)
Walgreen’s is expanding automation to help fill prescriptions. Locally, our Walgreen’s has had chronic staffing problems – with a shortage off staff, customers have to wait in long lines – and find it can take days to weeks to fill prescriptions. Last year, our local RiteAid had this problem – of the 17 people in line in front of me, at the time, half were told to come back in 5-7 days. But there are times were you cannot wait – like you need an antibiotic prescription for an infected wound, or you’ve been discharged from the hospital and need heart medications right away.
