TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Residents on Tallahassee\u2019s south side could soon have another pharmacy closer to their front doors.<\/p>\n
Right now, the south side is a pharmacy desert with only one location serving residents, making it hard for those without transportation to get their medications. <\/p>\n
But that could change with some funding from local government.<\/p>\n
Dr. Otis Kirksey pointed out that the Neighborhood Medical Center\u2019s South Monroe branch is surrounded by fast food but has no retail pharmacy, something he hopes will soon change.<\/p>\n
Kirksey and the Neighborhood Medical Center hope to see that change by the end of the year. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe watched Walgreens, CVS, they\u2019ve all left, right? And, so it\u2019s not just unique to Tallahassee, but it\u2019s something that we\u2019re seeing all over,\u201d Kirksey said. \u201cAnd, so what happens is, that you\u2019re in a food desert, and now you\u2019re in a pharmacy desert.\u201d <\/p>\n
More Tallahassee news: <\/p>\n
Blueprint, a joint city and county board, is expected to pass a direct grant to the medical center for just under $400,000. Kirksey said that taxpayer money will help stock the pharmacy and pay for staff. It\u2019s a form of gap financing to get the project over the finish line. <\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, we have a lot of people who don\u2019t have access and they deserve to be able to come and get the same quality of care with the same compassion, right?\u201d Kirksey said.<\/p>\n
The Blueprint board unanimously asked staff for an analysis, and the chair previously said he is even willing to call a special meeting before June, if that gets the money doled out faster.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this is a tremendous boost for us, if this grant comes through, because it\u2019s going to provide us with vital capital to hit the ground running,\u201d Kirksey said.<\/p>\n
The pharmacy is expected to open as soon as this summer. it will be located on South Monroe Street, just south of the state capitol building. Kirksey said the building is actually an old bank, so they\u2019re planning to open a drive through option to pick up prescriptions.<\/p>\n
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