Geographical Disparities in the Distribution of Community Pharmacies Providing Aseptic Preparation Services in Japan.

Abstract

Purpose: Providing medical, nursing, and welfare services in each community is becoming increasingly important as population ages in Japan, and the demand for aseptic preparation in community pharmacies is expected to increase. In this study, the disparity in the distribution of community pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services were examined to explore how the unequal distribution of the pharmacies can be improved in the future.

Methods: The regional inequality of community pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services was evaluated using Gini coefficients. The regional distribution was evaluated using a geographic information system application.

Results: Only 8.0% of all insurance community pharmacies in Japan provided aseptic preparation services. The Gini coefficient of pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services for the total population of each municipality was 0.410. The population coverage, within 16 km of pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services, was 96.5% of the total population. The residential grid coverage, within 16 km of the pharmacies, was 75.2% of the total network, approximately one quarter not covered. It is estimated that the coverage ratios will improve by some percentage by 2050, although the projected population in 2050 is expected to decrease by approximately 20%.

Conclusion: The current number and distribution of pharmacies providing aseptic preparation services are inadequate, and measures need to be taken to avoid future problems.