CVS, Walmart to Cut Pharmacy Hours

A nationwide pharmacist shortage is causing CVS and Walmart to cut their pharmacy hours.

In March CVS will cut or change its pharmacy hours at two-thirds of its 9,000 locations in the U.S., while Walmart will close pharmacies at most of its 4,600 stores at 7 p.m. instead of 9 p.m., The Wall Street Journal reports.

Likewise, Walgreens Boots Alliance earlier announced that staffing shortages have caused it to curtail hours at thousands of its stores.

The chains have been working assiduously to stop pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from leaving by offering bonuses, higher pay and lunch breaks. These professionals had already been in short supply even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which has only put them in higher demand.

The pharmacy cutbacks come at a time when both CVS and Walgreens are trying to diversify their offerings with a wider range of medical services, including diagnostic testing and primary care.

Last year, Walmart raised pharmacy technicians' wages to an average of more than $20 a hour. In February, all Walmart store and warehouse workers' minimum wage will be $14 an hour, up from $12.

CVS and Walgreens raised their minimum wages to $15/hour last year.