Harmacy Film

We're a pharmacy documentary in progress. The COVID-19 pandemic unmasked long-hidden flaws in the US chain pharmacy industry, leading to dangerous—and in some cases fatal—consequences. When people think about the issues related to pharmacy they inevitably think of the opioid epidemic, as portrayed in the Netflix documentary The Pharmacist and the Hulu series Dopesick. But sadly, the problems in pharmacy extend much further and have existed far longer. Corporate chains like CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens have taken over community pharmacy, elbowing out patient-focused independent pharmacies, and imposing a retail sales environment. The chains ratcheted up production for pharmacy staff to a fast-food pace and piled on performance metrics for upsells and wait times. Unbeknownst to the public, this has been going on behind the counter for decades—far from ideal, but manageable. But then COVID hit… COVID-19 unmasked America's chronic disease within chain pharmacies, as the industry's long-standing struggles have become life-threatening symptoms: A patient is re-hospitalized for a heart attack as his blood thinner is delayed at the pharmacy. A pharmacist disappears to vomit and cry as hundreds of prescriptions need filling and angry customers wait at the window, the drive through, and on the phone. The independent pharmacy is dying, too. And PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) puppeteer the pharmacy stage from behind the scenes, compounding the chaos behind the counter. In this film, the shocking realities of America's pharmacies and the insidious influence of PBMs are finally brought out in front of the counter. Yet the film doesn't just reveal problems; it also offers hope as it explores various prescriptions for a failing system. This exposé delivers a wake-up call, motivating viewers to advocate for a safer and more equitable future for pharmacy consumers and professionals alike.