Customers are frustrated with the delay in receiving their prescriptions from local pharmacies

Frequent customers of pharmaceutical companies like Walgreens have been faced with concerns about receiving their prescriptions because the hours of operations have changed. This week a Walgreens Pharmacy on Vista Chino and Sunrise Way has been closed and is now open today. The employees are attempting to fill all of their client's prescriptions. Customers are frustrated with the delay and have been without their medication longer than expected. 

We spoke to a Coachella Valley resident Dr. Luis Torres who shared with us his frustrations saying using the Walgreens phone alert system that gives inaccurate prescription updates. He said, “you get messages saying it’s ready but you go by the pharmacy, and sometimes it’s ready and sometimes it’s not".

He also shared concerns about staffing pharmacists at the pharmacies here in the valley and that they are not always available.

After speaking to many residents of the Coachella Valley, they all wanted answers from Walgreens.

Walgreens representative, Karen May, Senior Manager, Leadership Communications sent us a statement that said,

"What we’re seeing in the Palm Springs area is the result of staffing challenges due to the ongoing labor shortage and ongoing demand for COVID-related services. As a result, there are some instances in which we’ve had to adjust or reduce pharmacy operating hours, as we work to balance staffing and resources to meet the needs of our customers and patients".

Walgreens corporate office sent from Karen May
Senior Manager, Leadership Communications

Some of the residents I spoke to understood this position and Chris, a part-time resident of Palm Springs said,  "I'm still in a forgiving mindset with COVID and everything. So you know, if their staff shortages, I'm kind of still willing to let things slide and endure a little bit of discomfort or inconvenience. But yeah, it's a little bit annoying".