Oregon second worst in the nation for retail pharmacy access, new analysis finds

Oregon has the second fewest retail pharmacies per capita in the nation — with poorer access to pharmacies than any state except Alaska, according to a new analysis by the Associated Press.

The AP obtained proprietary data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, a standards development group for the pharmacy industry.

Oregon had 610 retail pharmacies statewide as of February, amounting to just 14.4 pharmacies per 100,000 people.

And that number is falling, according to Brian Mayo, executive director of the Oregon Pharmacy Association. Thirty-six pharmacies closed last year, and several more have closed so far in 2024.

“With how few pharmacies Oregon has, every pharmacy should be considered a critical access pharmacy,” Mayo told OPB.

Oregon Public Broadcasting is a Portland Tribune news partner. Read their full story at opb.org .