The Wellness Collective

What Is a Pharmacy Desert — And Are You in One?

Reviewed by Adam Gardner, Licensed Pharmacist & COO of TelyRx

types of pharmacy deserts
An infographic depicting the various types of pharmacy deserts via TelyRx.

My dad called me last week from his home in Southern Nevada, sounding noticeably worried. At 82, he’d been living independently and managing a thyroid condition for years, but a recent bout of dizziness made driving feel unsafe. His usual pharmacy was only four miles away, but in his current condition, it was now completely out of reach. “I’m in trouble here,” he said, his voice quieter than normal. “I need my levothyroxine, but I can’t drive like this.” 

Four miles. That’s barely a five-minute drive. Yet for my father, it represented an impossible barrier between him and the medication keeping him healthy. And from 400 miles away, I couldn’t step in to bridge that gap. 

This is when I realized my dad wasn’t just dealing with a temporary inconvenience. He was trapped in what experts call a “pharmacy desert” — and it had nothing to do with geography. 

The term might sound abstract, but the reality is devastatingly concrete. When you can’t reach your medications safely, consistently, or without major life disruptions, you’re in a desert. The distance might be measured in miles, or it might be measured in the gap between your current circumstances and the medications you need to stay healthy. 

what is a pharmacy desert?

Brick-and-mortar pharmacies are closing at an unprecedented rate.

Here’s what might surprise you: 1 in 7 Americans — over 48.4 million people — live in areas officially classified as pharmacy deserts. But this number doesn’t capture the millions more who, like my father, face personal barriers that make pharmacy access just as challenging. 

You might be one of them, even if you’ve never thought about it in these terms. 

geographical pharmacy deserts: when distance is the enemy

Picture a rural Montana town where residents have to endure an 85-minute, 36-mile round trip drive just to pick up a medication. This scenario defines what experts call a pharmacy desert: any area where people must travel more than 10 miles to reach the nearest pharmacy. 

As for the prevalence of traditional pharmacy deserts, the numbers tell a stark story. 82% of Alaska’s counties qualify, followed by North Dakota at 81%, Montana at 79%, South Dakota at 74%, and Nebraska at 70%. And the crisis is accelerating nationwide.

According to a 2024 report issued by the National Community Pharmacists Association, there are now 2,200 fewer pharmacies than there were just four years ago, while the Associated Press reports that Walgreens alone plans to shutter another 1200 stores over the next 3 years. The current pharmacy shortage in the U.S. is truly unprecedented.  

Rural communities are especially vulnerable because 76.5% of their pharmacies are small independent operations. When these family-owned operations close, entire counties can be left without a single pharmacy. 

As TelyRx co-founder Thomas McKinney noted in a recent column on NJ.com,

“When pharmacies close in areas already short of doctors and other healthcare services, it creates a potentially life-threatening situation for people who have chronic conditions and depend on consistent medication access.” 

functional pharmacy deserts: when life gets in the way

Functional pharmacy deserts exist anywhere circumstances, such as long lines for those with mobility issues, impede access to essential medications.

Now here’s where things get personal — and where my dad’s story could easily become everyone’s story. 

If you think about what a “desert” really means — a place depleted of resources or lacking easy access to what you need — then pharmacy deserts exist far beyond geographic boundaries. You may live within a few blocks of a pharmacy, but if you can’t get there safely, during operating hours, or without major logistical or financial challenges, then aren’t you essentially living in a pharmacy desert, too? 

Consider these scenarios that create invisible but very real barriers: 

  • You’re a working parent whose schedule conflicts with the pharmacy’s hours
  • You’re dealing with mobility issues that make it difficult to travel or stand in line  
  • You’re caring for someone who can’t be left alone 
  • You lack reliable transportation or can’t afford gas for regular trips 
  • You’re dealing with a health issue that leaves you temporarily unable to drive   
  • You’re managing a condition you’d prefer to keep private 

Sound familiar? Millions of Americans navigate these “functional pharmacy deserts” every day, even in cities with pharmacies on every corner. The barriers aren’t geographic — they’re circumstantial, financial, physical, or social. But the end result is identical: the medication you need feels impossibly out of reach. 

the real-world consequences

Whether it’s 36 miles of rural highway or a work schedule that never aligns with pharmacy hours, the result is heartbreakingly predictable: People go without vital medications. Without easy access to their prescriptions, they’re more likely to skip doses, delay refills, or discontinue necessary treatments altogether. 

This isn’t just frustrating — it’s genuinely scary. Think about the shift worker who clocks out at midnight, when every pharmacy in town is closed, acutely aware that their anxiety medication is about to run out. Or someone managing diabetes who can’t get their insulin refilled regularly.  

And the problem extends beyond individual health crises. Studies show that people in pharmacy deserts face the greatest barriers to accessing HIV prevention medications like PrEP, potentially turning what should be routine healthcare into a community-wide public health challenge. What starts as a simple access problem can quickly spiral into emergency room visits and serious health complications. 

where digital pharmacies change everything

TelyRx connects you with board-certified doctors who can prescribe what you need, and our licensed pharmacies deliver the medications straight to your door.

This is where technology steps in to level the playing field—and it’s exactly why TelyRx was founded—to provide an oasis in America’s growing pharmacy deserts. Like a great equalizer, digital pharmacy and telehealth platforms serve the rancher in rural Wyoming and the busy parent in Chicago equally well; the senior with mobility issues and the shift worker with impossible hours receive the high same level of care.  

At TelyRx, we’re focused on reducing healthcare barriers by offering nearly 300 FDA-approved medications for everyday conditions—from chronic illnesses to acute needs. Our approach is straightforward: no subscriptions required, no mandatory video appointments, and same or next-day shipping nationwide, with upfront pricing that eliminates hidden fees. Just compassionate, stigma-free care for real people dealing with real challenges.  

And this digital revolution goes beyond simple convenience: 

  • Geographic barriers disappear: Medications arrive at your door, whether you’re homebound temporarily or permanently lacking reliable transportation. 
  • Time flexibility: Order prescriptions when it works for your schedule, not when pharmacies happen to be open. 
  • Cost transparency: Upfront pricing eliminates surprise fees and insurance complications. 
  • Privacy protection: Particularly valuable when managing sensitive health conditions. 

Digital healthcare isn’t just a backup plan for remote areas. For millions wondering how to get prescriptions faster and more conveniently, it’s become an essential modern solution everywhere people face barriers to medication access. Sometimes those barriers are miles of empty highway. Sometimes they’re work schedules, health challenges, or family responsibilities that make leaving home difficult. 

As for my dad, switching to a digital telehealth platform supported by licensed mail order pharmacies meant regaining his independence. He can once again manage his thyroid condition without needing to rely on neighbors for rides and without those four seemingly impossible miles standing between him and his medication. 

Disclaimer

This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content provided here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, consultation, or care from a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the guidance of your physician or another licensed health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Do not disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice based on information read on this site. Learn more about our editorial standards here.

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