Following the recent announcement of Rite Aid's bankruptcy filing under Chapter 11, the company plans to shutter four stores in San Diego County. These closures result from financial losses and ongoing litigation connected to the opioid crisis, as reported by NBC San Diego.
The impacted stores are in Oceanside, Ramona, and two others within the city limits of San Diego itself. The company has yet to provide specific closure dates or indicate if additional stores will be affected.
In an effort to minimize disturbance for their customers, Rite Aid reportedly plans to relocate prescriptions to nearby pharmacies, according to the FOX 5 San Diego report. The company is also expected to transfer store employees, to other Rite Aid locations wherever possible.
While these closures are likely to have varied effects on customers, importantly they underlie a troubling trend in the pharmacy sector. The lingering opioid crisis continues placing financial stress on pharmacies, potentially escalating store closures and thus threatening access to crucial medications for communities.
