CVS Report Predicts 2024 Trends in Community Pharmacy

On January 17, 2024, CVS Health published the Rx Report: The Future of Community Pharmacy Open Doors to Healthier Communities, which evaluated a survey in collaboration with the Harris Poll and used it to highlight trends and make predictions about community pharmacy.

The 10-page report emphasizes the critical importance of community pharmacies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that approximately 41,000 community pharmacies were mobilized throughout the pandemic to administer over 300 million vaccines globally.

Even so, the report notes, “This demand, in many ways, has not eased, despite the retreat of the pandemic itself. While it’s an exciting time to be working in a community pharmacy, it’s also time for industry-wide change that evolves how community pharmacy works and supports patient care and the practice of pharmacy in new and important ways.”

The remainder of the report analyzes data from roughly 4,000 adults. According to the data, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in high trust and reliance on community pharmacies.

For example, almost 90% of adults reported trusting their local pharmacists and pharmacy teams. Additionally, 75% noted that they would discuss personal or family health with a pharmacist.

Beyond increased trust, the convenience of community pharmacies increased patient–provider interactions in pharmacies. With 90% of Americans living within five miles of retail pharmacies, nearly one-third of Americans visit them weekly. In addition, approximately 70% opt to go to pharmacies out of convenience.

In addition to gathering trends on patient perceptions of pharmacies, the study also analyzed tools used by pharmacists, noting an increased use of digital tools, such as online prescription tracking and delivery, digital scheduling and pick up, or online payment options.

“Following the COVID-19 pandemic, patients continue to turn to local pharmacies more frequently for healthcare services because of their convenience and the growing trust they have in their pharmacy teams,” said Prem Shah, Executive Vice President, Chief Pharmacy Officer, and President of Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, CVS Health, in the press release. “To continue to meet growing patient needs, we must evolve how community pharmacy works and, most importantly, how we support our pharmacy teams to create a sustainable future for community pharmacy.”