The prescription drug struggle is back again.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (48291)
July 16, 2025 6:18pm CST
I've written about this mess before...for several months now, it's been a lot better, smoother, and no waits for meds to arrive at the pharmacy. Now, it appears we are back to square one again.
I don't have to run around all over, have only had to make two trips to other pharmacies lately (not in my city, but not terribly far) but it's a pain in the patootie. Things that are supposed to be filled automatically are back to me having to go and ask ''where is this, you said it was ready?'' And we have had a complete turnover of new pharmacists and pharmacy techs, etc. There is only one guy, he is a tech, that seems to get anything done. And he is so nice to me, goes out of his way, really. The pharmacist told him the one med my son needed today (he was out of it yesterday) did not come in today. He said ''Oh, yes it did! Go look again, and get it filled, this lady has made 3 trips here today!'' She didn't want to go look, but she did, and I got the medicine for him.
How can a pharmacy operate like this? The only one I know of that runs smoothly is the pharmacy connected to the hospital my son goes to--and a person has to park in the parking tower to go to it, and walk quite a way to get to it, so I only do that if I have to.
Whatever happened to efficiency ?? Is it just gone forever, or what??
Picture from freepik
14 people like this
13 responses
@AmbiePam (102740)
• United States
17 Jul
About 20 years ago our CVS was like that. I’m NOT ashamed to say I had a mini melt down with the pharmacist one day when I came back to the pharmacy with a filled prescription that had absolutely no hint of a label. He accused me of removing it (I contacted their main office after that). Then, I started getting prescriptions already opened, the safety seals punctured. And like yours, there was one good guy who would try to keep it together, and he started double checking people’s work. This was the only pharmacy we could use at the time (long story). Eventually, he moved to Wyoming, but he reported about three people there on his way out. That pharmacist who accused me got put on the graveyard shift. The other two got fired.
But Ryan is much worse off than I am, and you are dealing with craziness. God bless that one tech!
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
17 Jul
One day a few months back one of the pharmacists would not listen to me...or fill a new scrip for him. I was so exhausted, I just started crying. I never do that, but I guess I had all I could take at the time. Then we switched out to another pharmacy and it was not any better, and a lot farther away. Then, as you know, it was just driving to one or another to actually get what you needed as no one was getting anything they ordered. CVS had it together for awhile, now they seem to be going through help like wildfire. I am so, so glad for the nice tech, who really goes out of his way for me and for others. It makes a huge difference.
I hope you don't have to go through this nightmare anytime soon to get your meds.
@LadyDuck (483267)
• Italy
18 Jul
@MarieCoyle - Many seem not to care about their work, it does not matter if customers are not happy.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
20 Jul
@LadyDuck
No matter what job I ever had in my life, I always did my job. These people need to take more pride in their work.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
18 Jul
I the end, they just ate making more work for themselves. They just need to take some pride in their work and get it done!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (88816)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Jul
Glad I take no meds I hope you can figure this all out to get proper meds
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (88816)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Jul
@MarieCoyle so sorry you have this concern I sure hope with time perhaps he might not need the meds but while he does I hope you find a good solution to get them for him
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
17 Jul
These meds were for my son, he either takes the meds or he will not be here on earth. So of course, I knock myself out to get them for him. I am glad you don't have to take meds, what a blessing that is.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
19 Jul
@RasmaSandra
I will do everything in my power to help him get what he needs. Thank you so much.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
17 Jul
I guess they think it's not important to have customers? But don't customers pay their salary? Maybe they think differently, but in so many cases, the professionalism is just gone.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (362589)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Jul
@MarieCoyle Maybe they have so many customers they can afford to let a few go - in which case they might be in for a rude awakening
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
20 Jul
@JudyEv
It's just a circus most of the time. I can't imagine even trying to fix the messes they get themselves into!
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (113940)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Jul
That is what I am concerned about efficiency has gone by the way of the dinosaurs.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
17 Jul
I am always surprised at the attitude of some of these people--like they are doing us a favor to even speak to us! Whatever happened to customer service?
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (113940)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Jul
@MarieCoyle That is a good question.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
17 Jul
@Deepizzaguy
Unfortunately, in many businesses it is non-existent.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (58395)
• Philippines
17 Jul
That caused trouble. We know no one is perfect but a good system may work well.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (58395)
• Philippines
18 Jul
@MarieCoyle yes that would be nice. But you couldn't expect them to do it. there are lazy people. There are some who don't know their jod. There are people who need to be supervised.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
20 Jul
@Nakitakona
There is also not the ''on the job training'' to familiarize a new employee with their surroundings, customer base, etc.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
18 Jul
If people would just do their jobs the way they are supposed to, it would be so much easier.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (195837)
• United States
17 Jul
I am sorry you are having these struggles. It can't be fun.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
17 Jul
It's just maddening and exhausting, and affects so many people. Thank you, Snowy.
1 person likes this
@id_peace (16625)
• Singapore
17 Jul
It seems like complacency set in. Previously in my public healthcare system, the wait was a killer and that the workflow made us wait for a few hours for the specialists and then several hours at the pharmacy. These days, they made huge improvement and allow free next day medication collection.
@id_peace (16625)
• Singapore
18 Jul
@MarieCoyle You will get that improvement so long as there are no politics at play. Such changes are troublesome and not many people will support such changes in the hospital.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
18 Jul
I am more than ready for that huge improvement you speak of!
1 person likes this
@cherigucchi (15841)
• Philippines
17 Jul
I understand your predicament. I just hope that this gets resolved
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (122182)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Jul
I would report that one as he doesn't want to do his job
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (21038)
• United States
29 Jul
I get my prescriptions at walmart. They are good about having my pills on time etc. But I did have a problem with the Walmart pharmacy once. I had moved to another town and I wanted to move my prescription to a Walmart closer to the house I live in now. I had to call the Walmart I had before to get them to move it. I don't know why the Walmart here wouldn't call the one I used before.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
30 Jul
Many pharmacies here are truly struggling with lack of employees, and not enough pharmacists.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (200397)
• United States
17 Jul
Our Giant Eagle Pharmacy is a gem. I even had a tech call me to tell me that the antibiotic that I had asked him about was just sent in. I'm sorry you're having so much trouble. Can't you complain to someone?
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (48291)
•
18 Jul
I have once before, and I did again yesterday. I doubt it does any good, but I did it anyway.
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