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Urging the United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to delay the merger of the Rite Aid Corporation with Walgreens Boots Alliance until the impact of the merger is fully disclosed to the Citizens of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, The Rite Aid Corporation is the nation’s leading drugstore chain and the largest drugstore chain on the East Coast. Rite Aid employs roughly 89,000 associates and employs an estimated 2,350 people in Central Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Rite Aid strives to be a sustaining community pharmacy that can better meet the growing demand for affordable, high-quality health services. Its mission is to improve the health and wellness of our communities through engaging in experiences that provide its customers with the best products, services and advice to meet their unique needs; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, Rite Aid released its model RediClinic that provides the community with high-quality, affordable, and convenient healthcare. The RediClinic board-certified clinicians collaborate with local physicians to treat common medical conditions and provide preventive care on a walk-in basis, seven days a week. RediClinic treats more than 30 conditions and also provides affordable alternative health screenings, medical tests immunizations, and physical exams; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Rite Aid has required their pharmacists to provide care beyond prescriptions and meet the growing demand for convenient, high-quality health services. In Fiscal 2016, Rite Aid’s 11,000 pharmacists nationwide administered 3.9 million immunizations, facilitated additional pharmacists –patient consultations through the new “Quit for You” smoking cessation program, and launched the Vaccine Central, a comprehensive set of online and in-store tools that promote the availability and importance of all vaccinations to citizens of various communities across the United States; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) the average American lives with five miles or less of the nearest community pharmacy, which puts community pharmacies in a unique position to help America close the gap on patient access, and bring affordability to healthcare cost; and
WHEREAS, In the City of Philadelphia where the poverty rate is highest among other big cities across the nation at 28.4%, the closing of community pharmacies translates into less patient access, lower quality health services, vulnerability among lower class families, and potential increase in poverty; and
WHEREAS, According to the Central Penn Business Journal, “Walgreens officials have not made any definitive statement about how much corporate presence they would maintain in Pennsylvania after the merger, only that such decisions would be made over time after any deal is consummated; and
WHEREAS, Through its 86 stores located in City of Philadelphia, Rite Aid continues to serve as a base for convenient, affordable, and high quality health services; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia, That Council does hereby urge the United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to delay the merger of the Rite Aid Corporation with Walgreens Boots Alliance until the impact of the merger is fully disclosed to the Citizens of Philadelphia.
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