The History Of Independent Pharmacies

Over a century ago, the local drugstore or apothecary had a vital part to play in community life. Many of them didn’t just sell medications and healthcare essentials, but also general products. In fact, many were a popular meeting place for local residents, with their own diner-style food and a soda fountain!

No matter whether you need an aspirin, a milkshake, or a prescription filled, the neighborhood pharmacy was the place to go.

In a time before mass-production of medications, pharmacists working at these independent pharmacies worked hand-in-hand with doctors in order to create elixirs, ointments, and pills from scratch, often relying on herbal remedies from centuries ago. However, it was during the Prohibition era that drugstores became even more popular.

Socialization In The Pharmacy

During the Prohibition era, alcohol was made illegal. With bars closed, people were lacking a place where they could go to socialize. That was when the soda fountain in the local pharmacy became a focal point.

People would come to hang out with their friends, to gossip, and to talk about politics and sports. As an added bonus, anybody who had a prescription from their doctor may be permitted to purchase a fifth of whisky, since alcohol at that time could still be bought for medical purposes.

Requirements And Regulations

Between 1900 and 1950, there was a great drive to bring in more requirements and regulations for independent pharmacies. Standards were set that pharmacists had to meet in terms of their education.

Whereas at one time, pharmacists usually learned their trade through an apprenticeship, a change was made in the law that meant pharmacists needed to undergo formal education and obtain a degree in order to become licensed.

After 1950, more significant changes were brought about. More medicines were being developed, many of which were actually able to cure the problems they were taken to solve – a big change from the past when all-too-often, medicines were only able to bring minor relief for symptoms.

Also, pharmacists mainly stopped making drug compounds of their own, instead, turning to reliance on lotions and pills that were mass-produced. As consumers saw that these medications were effective, they become more confident in their use and began to seek out medicine eagerly to resolve their health problems.

A Move Towards Prescription Filling

The progress in the sector caused massive disruption to the community drug store’s business dynamic. Whereas at one time relatively few prescriptions were sold by pharmacists and the bulk of the profit came from selling soda, magazines, cosmetics, greetings cards, and cigarettes, slowly by surely, prescriptions took over as the major seller.

As a result, in-store changes were required and the café and soda fountain were the first things to go in order to allow staff to focus on their main job – filling prescriptions.

The Arrival Of The Chain Drug Store

Until the 1980s, independent, small pharmacies were the norm, and over 40,000 were spread across the USA. However, in the two decades between 1980 and 2000, chain drug stores like Rite Aid, Walgreens, and major retailers such as Walmart began to spread widely nationwide.

By the time 2000 rolled around, over 17,000 independent pharmacies had disappeared from the scene as chain drug stores took over their businesses.

Nevertheless, those independent pharmacies which managed to weather this storm have held strong ever since. Since that time, around 22,500 independent pharmacies are still holding out against the chain brands and today around 40% of pharmacies are still independently owned.

As we move forward in the future of the pharmacy industry, and encounter new trends and innovations, who knows what will happen to independent pharmacies, however, it appears that those who have come this far are likely to stand strong in the face of any challenge.

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