The Struggle of a Family Pharmacy in Boston
A recent report from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission highlights a growing concern: more than half a million people in the state live without easy access to a pharmacy. This issue is becoming even more pressing as one of Boston's long-standing pharmacies faces the possibility of closure.
Kornfield Pharmacy, a family-owned business that has served residents of Roxbury for decades, is at the center of this crisis. Owner Uche Egesionu has been working to keep the pharmacy open despite significant financial challenges.
"My father bought this place from the previous owners about 30 years ago," said Egesionu. "He was running it up until 2011 when he was murdered on a trip abroad." Since then, Egesionu has taken over the business, leaving behind his career as an engineer to ensure the pharmacy remains operational.
"The pharmacy is barely keeping afloat," Egesionu explained. "People walk in the store and they're wondering why some of the shelves are bare. I mean, some of the things that we have to work with are all purchased by my family, it's not purchased by the store right now."
Egesionu added, "I can't hire staff right now, I don't even have enough to even pay myself. I'm on EBT as well." This situation reflects the deep financial strain the pharmacy is under.
Prescription Reimbursement Issues
One of the main issues Egesionu faces is the lack of adequate reimbursement from insurance companies for prescriptions. He described how the cost of medications often far exceeds what is reimbursed.
"For example, Ozempic, we have to pay $977.63, of which we only get reimbursed $952.99," Egesionu said. This discrepancy makes it extremely difficult for the pharmacy to remain profitable.
The Health Policy Commission’s report also shows a troubling trend: the number of pharmacies in Massachusetts has decreased by 17% since 2019, dropping from 1,134 to 940 currently. This decline is contributing to the growing problem of pharmacy deserts across the state.
"If I'm not turning a profit by December, I can't do this," Egesionu said. "This whole area will be a pharmacy desert if we don't act soon."
Impact on the Community
For longtime customer Stephanie Thomas, the potential closure of Kornfield Pharmacy is more than just an inconvenience—it's a loss of a community hub.
"Losing this place to me is like taking away our home," Thomas said. "The closest CVS that they have is downtown." For many residents, the pharmacy is not just a place to pick up prescriptions but a vital part of their daily lives.
Egesionu expressed concern about the broader implications of the situation. "There's going to be larger ramifications going down the road if we don't fix this now and I don't want to sweep it under the rug either."
A Call for Action
The story of Kornfield Pharmacy is a microcosm of a larger issue facing communities across Massachusetts. With fewer pharmacies available and rising costs, the challenge of maintaining access to essential healthcare services is becoming increasingly difficult.
As Egesionu continues to fight to keep the doors open, the question remains: what steps can be taken to support small, family-owned pharmacies and prevent more communities from becoming pharmacy deserts?
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