The California Attorney General’s Office Investigates Kroger-Albertsons Merger for Creating Pharmacy Deserts
The California attorney general’s office is concerned the Kroger-Albertsons merger will create pharmacy deserts, according to a report by Reuters.
Pharmacy Deserts and their Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Pharmacy deserts are areas where lower-income families in urban areas and smaller towns struggle to access fresh food and essential medicines and vaccinations, similar to food deserts.
- These pharmacy deserts hinder progress towards achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by limiting access to necessary healthcare services and medications.
An area is labeled a pharmacy desert if people must walk or take a bus more than a half mile, or must drive more than a mile, to reach a pharmacy.
According to a source from the California attorney general’s office, low-income families are at high risk of losing their pharmacy access if the Kroger-Albertsons deal becomes official, as reported by Reuters.
The fear is that less profitable stores would be closed, resulting in the creation of large pharmacy deserts. If the $24.6 billion merger is approved, up to 650 locations could potentially shut down, according to Reuters.
Kroger currently offers pharmacies within 2,254 of its stores, while only around 1,700 Albertsons stores offer prescription medication and other health services.
A study conducted by the University of Southern California in 2021 revealed that one in three neighborhoods in 30 cities were considered pharmacy deserts.
A Kroger spokesperson informed Reuters that Kroger would handle the pharmacy side of the business for the Albertsons stores it acquires.
Concerns Raised by States and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Several states, including Colorado, Arizona, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont, have expressed opposition to the Kroger-Albertsons merger. They wrote a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan urging the agency to stop the merger. The states argue that the deal would allow Kroger and Albertsons to control a quarter of the U.S. food retail market.
- This opposition aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) as it aims to promote fair competition and prevent corporate consolidation that may negatively impact consumers and workers.
The FTC is also investigating whether the merger would have an adverse effect on smaller grocery chains by influencing suppliers, as reported by Supermarket News.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. SDGs Addressed:
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
2. Targets:
- Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
- Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
3. Indicators:
- Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment
- Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services
- Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and disability
- Indicator 11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age, and persons with disabilities
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round. | Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. | Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. | Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and disability |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. | Indicator 11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age, and persons with disabilities |
Analysis:
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first SDG addressed is SDG 2: Zero Hunger, as the article mentions “pharmacy deserts” affecting the ability of lower income families to access fresh food. This connects to Target 2.1, which aims to ensure access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all people.
The second SDG addressed is SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. The article discusses the impact of pharmacy deserts on the access to essential medicines and vaccinations for lower income families. This relates to Target 3.8, which focuses on achieving universal health coverage and access to quality essential health-care services.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities is also relevant to the issues discussed in the article. The article highlights the risk of low-income families losing their pharmacy access due to the merger, which could worsen inequalities in accessing healthcare services. This aligns with Target 10.2, which aims to promote social and economic inclusion for all individuals.
Lastly, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities is connected to the article’s discussion of pharmacy deserts in urban areas and smaller towns. Target 11.7 focuses on providing universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible public spaces, which includes access to pharmacies. The article mentions the potential closure of less profitable stores, leading to large pharmacy deserts, indicating a lack of accessible healthcare services in certain communities.
The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. Indicator 2.1.1, which measures the prevalence of undernourishment, can be used to assess progress towards Target 2.1. Indicator 3.8.1, which measures the coverage of essential health services, can be used to track progress towards Target 3.8. Indicator 10.2.1, which measures the proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, can be used to monitor progress towards Target 10.2. Lastly, Indicator 11.7.1, which measures the average share of built-up area that is open space for public use, can be used to evaluate progress towards Target 11.7.
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Source: supermarketnews.com
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