CVS Health, Walmart reduce pharmacy hours due to lack of pharmacists

CVS Health and Walmart are closing some of their pharmacies earlier than usual as the shortage of pharmacists forced them to do so. The companies confirmed that they would be cutting store hours due to the labor crunch.

According to CNN Business, starting in March, CVS Health and Walmart will either be cutting or shifting their pharmacy operation hours. The move is a response not only due to the staffing shortage but to the declining customer demand as well. The dwindling demand was attributed to fading COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands of the pharmacies’ locations are affected by the reduced hours. Walmart will be closing most of its 4,600 stores in the United States at 7 p.m., which is two hours earlier, while CVS Health will cut the hours of its 6,000 pharmacies.

CVS said that the change in its operating hours would allow them to make sure that all patients are served. The company further explained that this decision is part of its “regular course of business to meet customer demand.

As for Walmart, its spokesperson said, “Walmart has a strong and incredible pharmacy team, and we are making this change to not only enhance their work-life balance but also to maintain the best level of service for our customers. By positioning our teams in the hours where our customers say they want to visit our pharmacy, we are better able to deliver excellent customer service.”

Walgreens pharmacy already cut its operating hours last year due to the same reason, but CVS Health and Walmart were only feeling the shortage this year. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the U.S. is currently experiencing a labor shortage that started at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The crunch is not over yet, and the pharmacy industry is feeling the most effect at the moment.

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