This story appears in the September–October 2026 issue of Dispense Times.
Since entering the pharmacy industry in 2014, I’ve watched independent pharmacy change dramatically.
I’ve seen pharmacies thrive. I’ve seen good pharmacies close. I’ve watched reimbursement get tighter, competition get bigger, technology move faster, and the business of pharmacy become increasingly complicated.
But one thing hasn’t changed.
People still need their pharmacist.
Not just an app. Not just an algorithm. Not a call center hundreds of miles away.
A pharmacist.
Someone who knows their name. Someone who notices when something doesn’t look right. Someone who takes an extra few minutes to explain a medication when a patient is worried or confused. Someone who understands that the person standing on the other side of the counter is more than a prescription number.
That relationship is worth protecting.
But protecting independent pharmacy doesn’t mean protecting the way we’ve always done things.
The economics have changed.
Patient expectations have changed.
Healthcare has changed. And some of the forces challenging independent pharmacies cannot simply be overcome by working harder.
Pharmacists are already working hard enough.
The opportunity now is to work differently.
Independent pharmacies are becoming broader healthcare destinations. They’re expanding clinical services, identifying new revenue opportunities, adopting technology, communicating with patients in new ways, and becoming better at telling their communities just how much value they provide.
I believe the pharmacies that combine innovation with the personal relationships that have always defined independent pharmacy will be incredibly difficult to replace.
That’s one of the reasons we created Dispense Times.
I don’t want this magazine to simply tell you what’s happening in pharmacy.
I want every issue to give you at least one idea that makes your pharmacy better.
Something you can try.
Something that makes you think differently.
Something that helps you compete.
And occasionally, something that challenges the way we’ve always done things.
Because independent pharmacy doesn’t need another publication telling pharmacists how difficult the environment is.
You already know.
What we need are better ideas, better conversations, and more people willing to help build what comes next.
After more than a decade in this industry, I remain convinced of something:
The future of independent pharmacy isn’t behind us.
We’re still writing it.
And I’m grateful that Dispense Times gets to be part of that story.
Joshua Pirestani
Founder, Dispense Times
