Can Tech Keep the Doors Open? Dimple Lagdiwala on the Future of Independent Pharmacies Amid Financial Strain
Independent pharmacies—long a lifeline for patients with chronic and complex conditions—are disappearing at an alarming rate. Pushed to the brink by shrinking reimbursements, complicated regulatory shifts, and a growing dependence on powerful middlemen, many small pharmacies are being forced to choose between cutting services or shutting down altogether.
But for Dimple Lagdiwala, a pharmacy consultant, entrepreneur, and former independent pharmacy owner based in New Jersey, there’s still a path forward—though it may not look like the past.
Lagdiwala believes that survival now depends on adaptation. Specifically, on smart, strategic adoption of technology.
“We’re not going to outscale the big chains,” he says. “But we can outmaneuver them. Small pharmacies can offer something the giants can’t: tailored service, agility, and local trust. Technology is how we protect that advantage.”
The crisis isn’t abstract. In the weeks following the collapse of bipartisan PBM reform efforts in Congress, more than 300 pharmacies—most of them independently owned—closed their doors. The American Economic Liberties Project attributes this wave of closures in part to vertically integrated pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) whose contract terms and reimbursement models leave small operators underwater.
And it’s not just economic pressure. After the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency in 2023, federal officials reinterpreted the Stark Law, effectively preventing independent physician practices from mailing oral oncology drugs. This created new barriers for patients undergoing chemotherapy—many of whom relied on timely deliveries from trusted local dispensaries.
“In some cases, we’re asking a cancer patient to drive two hours to pick up medication they used to get delivered,” says Lagdiwala. “That’s not just bad logistics—it’s bad medicine.”
Lagdiwala is among a growing group of pharmacy advocates calling for a shift—not just in legislation, but in mindset. While regulatory reform remains essential, technology, he says, can help small pharmacies build operational resilience in the meantime.
At the heart of his message is a call to rethink how pharmacies function day-to-day.
1. Smarter Inventory Management
Many small pharmacies struggle with either overstocking expensive medications or running short at critical moments. Lagdiwala points to predictive inventory systems—often powered by simple algorithms, not expensive AI platforms—that help forecast needs based on seasonality, prescription trends, and refill cycles.
“For a pharmacy dispensing oral oncolytics, being off by even a few units can mean thousands of dollars in waste or patient delays,” he explains.
2. Automated Dispensing and Workflow Tools
Automation doesn’t need to mean robotics. Even basic workflow platforms can help streamline prescription fulfillment, manage patient reminders, and reduce manual entry errors. For short-staffed pharmacies, those time savings can be the difference between offering one-on-one counseling and falling behind on orders.
3. Improved Patient Communication
Many independent pharmacies already have deep community ties. Lagdiwala argues that digital tools—such as SMS check-ins, refill reminders, or web-based co-pay assistance platforms—can strengthen those relationships without increasing staffing burdens.
“People think tech dehumanizes care. I see it the other way. It lets pharmacists spend less time on paperwork and more time helping real people.”
4. Financial Modeling and PBM Navigation
Technology can also help pharmacy owners navigate the increasingly complex economics of healthcare. Platforms that model reimbursement scenarios, evaluate PBM contract terms, or track billing discrepancies can help small operators make informed decisions—and protect against financial surprises.
Lagdiwala is quick to clarify that technology is not a silver bullet. It won’t replace fair reimbursement, regulatory clarity, or transparency from PBMs. But it can level the playing field—if pharmacies are willing and able to make the leap.
“I’ve seen what happens when a pharmacy closes in an underserved neighborhood. It’s not just inconvenient. It breaks trust. It breaks continuity of care.”
That, he says, is what’s really at stake.
If there’s hope, it lies in hybrid thinking: embracing both innovation and advocacy. Lagdiwala sees a future where independent pharmacies band together to share technology costs, pool data, and speak with a unified voice to lawmakers and insurers.
“We don’t need to be everywhere—we just need to be indispensable where we are,” he says.
With tools that increase efficiency, improve access, and defend sustainability, Lagdiwala believes independent pharmacies can reclaim their footing in the cancer-care ecosystem and beyond.
In a healthcare system under strain, the people who dispense life-saving drugs shouldn’t be forced to shut down. And with the right mix of policy and practical tools, they don’t have to.
Original Publication: https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2025/08/04/can-tech-keep-the-doors-open-dimple-lagdiwala-on-the-future-of-independent-pharmacies-amid-financial-strain/
Comments
Post a Comment