LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — You've likely seen the headlines— major pharmacy chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid have been shutting down hundreds of locations.
However, it's not just you that has heard those headlines.
Pharmacists like Dr. Charlie Tucker at Arch Street Pharmacy in Little Rock have also been keeping a close eye on things.
"We're a hub in this community, and love serving it," Dr. Tucker said. "Yeah, it's very important for this community."
They serve a vital role in their part of town. Without his pharmacy, patients would be left high and dry.
"If that pharmacy closes down, then that's created a desert," he said. "The next pharmacy may be five miles down the road, it could be 20 or 30 miles down the road."
Luckily, they're not going anywhere but with the news of those major pharmacies closing some locations, it has raised concerns for Tucker.
If these locations shut down, it would leave a pharmacy desert, and a gap in coverage for patients.
"I never want to see a business closed down, you know, those are lives, those are paychecks, those are families being supported, those are people we know in the community that are working there," he said.
These closures could also affect where you can and can't get your medication. If your prescription is only available at Walgreens and your closest location closes, that could cause headaches for you.
"Where's the next nearest Walgreens?" Dr. Tucker said. "It could be several miles away, not conveniently located."
It's not just Dr. Tucker that has kept a close eye on this. So has the Arkansas Pharmacists Association.
"We're seeing pressures in the market for all, across chains and independents," Dr. Nicki Hilliard, Director of Professional Affairs said.
Dr. Hilliard knows these closures would have a wide impact, but thanks to Arkansas's abundant local pharmacies, she said we should be all alright.
"I think they can react to the environment very quickly," she said. "Arkansas is very blessed to have one of the strongest independent pharmacy states in the country."
Even if a closure happened, and patients weren't able to drive to get their medication, she explained that local pharmacies can usually help.
"My dad is elderly, and they deliver his medicines once a month," Dr. Hilliard said. "Even though I could get to there and pick them up, it's nice to have them delivered to his home, and for so many people, they don't have another access."
No matter what happens to the local big pharmacy near you, the message from both doctors is simple.
"Support the local community, I think that's critical to making sure that we don't have pharmacy deserts across the state," Dr. Hilliard described.
"If there's you know, a pharmacy that closes nearby, you know, we'll do whatever we have to do to take care of these patients in this community," Dr. Tucker said.