Las Cruces Deals With Nationwide Pharmacist Shortage

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Lines at a Las Cruces Walgreens pharmacy are stretched several customers long on a Sunday afternoon. Area pharmacists said this is the picture many pharmacies across the nation are seeing.

"It is a problem and it's probably very complicated," said Stan Muchnikoff, a pharmacist at a local Walgreens.

Muchnikoff said competitive pharmacy programs are part of the problem. The College of Pharmacy at University of New Mexico only accepts about 85 students a year, according to Doctor John Pieper, dean of the school.

Perhaps making the problem worse is that there are only 100 pharmacy schools across the nation.

Muchnikoff said the problem increases as more retirees move to Las Cruces, creating a need for more pharmacists.

While area pharmacies are learning to deal with the problem for customers everywhere, it boils down to patients waiting longer to have prescriptions filled.


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