Challenges in the distribution of community pharmacists in depopulated areas in Japan

Objective: Inadequate provision of medical resources in depopulated areas is a challenge in many countries, and Japan is currently experiencing an aging society with a declining birth rate. In other countries, the shortage of medical resources, including community pharmacists, in depopulated areas has emerged as a salient issue, necessitating the development of effective solutions. With the emphasis on the separation between prescription and dispensation, the number of community pharmacists in Japan has increased over time. This study examined whether the increase in the number of community pharmacists over time has contributed to improving the distribution of pharmacists in depopulated areas.