pharmacy

Governor Kristi Noem speaks July 12, 2023, during a press conference at a Lewis Drug pharmacy in Sioux Falls. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Noem pledges action to alleviate prescription drug shortages

BY: - July 12, 2023

SIOUX FALLS — Governor Kristi Noem announced Wednesday the state will create additional stockpiles of prescription drugs to combat shortages.  The Department of Health already has an emergency stockpile of antibiotics in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Noem is expanding that program to five additional cities – Aberdeen, Hot Springs, Mobridge, Pierre and Yankton. And […]

(Darwin Brandis/iStock Getty Images Plus)

Opioid treatment prescriptions quadruple in SD over 5 years

BY: - June 24, 2023

The number of patients prescribed an opioid dependency medication has nearly quadrupled in South Dakota in the last five years, according to data collected by the state’s prescription drug monitoring program. Melissa DeNoon, director of the program, presented the data to the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy at its meeting on Friday. The increase in […]

A Publix Super Markets pharmacy manager retrieves a a medication. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Committee approves bill to lower costs for pharmacies

BY: - February 8, 2023

Over 20 pharmacies have closed across South Dakota since 2018. And over 55% of the state’s counties either lack a pharmacy or only have one. The industry is facing a pharmacy technician shortage, and a looming pharmacist shortage. South Dakota pharmacists believe a bill that would provide more transparency in prescription drug pricing by pharmaceutical […]

Lewis Drug pharmacists Graham Protexter and Sara Hahn prepare prescriptions on Jan. 12, 2023, at a store on South Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Pharmacist and technician shortage threatens access to health care

BY: - January 21, 2023

When Jessica Strobl’s 87-year-old grandmother needed to fill an antibiotic prescription last fall, her regular Black Hills area pharmacy was closed. She returned the next day to fill the prescription, but it was closed again. During that time, her infection worsened — enough to send her to the emergency room. While Strobl’s grandmother has since […]