Georgia’s Only Statewide Free Pharmacy Hits $2 Million Prescription Filled Milestone, Prepares to Expand Services

Georgia’s Only Statewide Free Pharmacy Hits $2 Million Prescription Filled Milestone, Prepares to Expand Services

The program provides 1100+ prescriptions monthly of vital medications to patients who otherwise could not afford at no cost.

(Atlanta, GA February 1, 2023) St. Vincent de Paul Georgia opened its Community Pharmacy to help Georgians who are uninsured or underinsured and unable to afford their prescription medication. Because St. Vincent de Paul Georgia never closed during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, we learned firsthand that access to affordable healthcare is a key determinant for household stability and quality of life for low-income individuals and families.

We created a solution that can address the:

• Over 1.4 million people in Georgia do not have health insurance.
• Georgia’s uninsured rate of 13.7% is the third highest in the country.
• 21.3% of Georgia’s population lives below the federal poverty level.
• 20% of uninsured individuals in Georgia go without medical care due to cost.
• 45% of Georgians fear a major health event could lead to their bankruptcy.

On February 1, 2021, St. Vincent de Paul Georgia opened a fully-licensed charitable pharmacy staffed by a full-time Pharmacy Director who also serves as the Staff Pharmacist and technicians to provide services to the entire state of Georgia. This service is available to Georgia residents who cannot afford to pay for their prescription medications. “Today, we have seen an even greater need as many of our neighbors are struggling with higher costs and have to make difficult decisions of whether to pay for needed medicines or other essentials such as food or utilities,” says Samantha Ricks, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy.

Now celebrating its two-year anniversary, the St. Vincent de Paul Georgia Community Pharmacy has serviced 3,469 patients and has dispensed 15,492 prescriptions without charge to patients, which translates to a value of $2,024,371 in medicine.  With the growth in volume, the need for additional staffing and mail and delivery services has increased dramatically. “For now, we have removed the cost barrier – and, because we ship medications to customers for free, we have also removed the transportation barrier – for thousands of patients across the state,” says Mike Mies, Executive Director.  “As a result, over the last months, the volume has further increased to over 1100 prescriptions per month.” In the last year, prescription medications were provided or delivered to residents in over 29 Georgia counties, as far north as Union County and as far south as Colquitt County.

Patients come from all walks of life and backgrounds. Mostly, they are the working poor. Regardless of the patient and his or her needs, one thing stays the same. Access to medication and prescriptions for those with chronic health conditions is critical in helping one with quality of life and self-sufficiency.

“I am really grateful because I depend on my medication, and I would not know how to find the means to pay,” says Derrick C., one of the pharmacy’s patients. He says without St. Vincent de Paul Georgia Community Pharmacy, he would have to go without his life-saving medications to pay other bills.

Getting help to the hundreds of people in need like Derrick wouldn’t be possible without the assistance of nonprofit organizations, donations, and volunteerism from the community at large.  “We would greatly appreciate the community’s help so we can continue to expand our services and the number of people we are able to serve. Additional funding allows us to add pharmacy staff and fund delivery costs to serve more residents,” says Mies.

If you or anyone you know is struggling to pay for prescription medication, the process to apply has moved entirely online and can be found at https://svdpgeorgia.org/what-we-do/health/svdp-georgia-community-pharmacy-eligibility/  

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About St. Vincent de Paul Georgia Community Pharmacy

The St. Vincent de Paul Georgia Community Pharmacy is a fully licensed charitable pharmacy Staffed by a full-time, licensed pharmacist and pharmacy technicians that provides free prescription medication to those in need with a valid prescription. It is the only stand-alone pharmacy in Georgia dedicated to the unique mission of providing free pharmaceutical care to people in need who have no other way to access their prescription medications. The pharmacy focuses on maintenance medications to treat chronic conditions such as diabetes, COPD, asthma, high blood pressure, arthritis, high cholesterol, arthritis, mental health conditions, and more. The St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy is committed to helping its patients achieve positive health outcomes that lead to improved quality of life while also lowering healthcare costs to care for the underserved across Georgia.  For more information about St. Vincent de Paul Georgia Community Pharmacy visit https://svdpgeorgia.org/what-we-do/health/.

About St. Vincent de Paul Georgia

With a mission to provide Help and Hope to neighbors in need, St. Vincent de Paul Georgia has been serving individuals, families, and communities across the State since 1903, Stabilizing those in crisis and creating paths to self-sufficiency through a focus on Hunger, Housing, and Health. St. Vincent de Paul Georgia one of the oldest, largest, and most. trusted State-wide social services safety net organizations in Georgia. For more information or to get involved, visit www.svdpgeorgia.org.