Having an on-campus pharmacy at the University of Maine is essential, as it would provide significant advantages to students who lack convenient or reliable transportation options. While the Cutler Health Center strives to meet students’ healthcare needs, it lacks in providing pharmacy services, which are crucial for maintaining overall health.
According to Northern Light Cutler Health Center’s frequently asked questions, “Although there is no pharmacy on campus, there are several in the community. Cutler Health will fax prescriptions to the patient’s preferred pharmacy (delivery services may be available). Insurance information and payment arrangements are made directly with the pharmacy.”
This can be a challenge for students who don’t have access to a car or other forms of transportation and must depend on others for rides, particularly when their schedules don’t align. It can also be difficult to reach a pharmacy during unpredictable or severe weather conditions without a ride. While the two nearest pharmacies to UMaine are located in the Walgreens and Hannaford in Old Town, they are not within walking distance.
Students who require more frequent prescription pick-ups or immediate changes to their medications also experience setbacks because there is not a pharmacy in close proximity. While having prescriptions mailed to campus is a possibility, it is not guaranteed that all pharmacies offer this service or that there won’t be any shipping issues. As a result, students may experience a delay in receiving their medication, which could have negative effects on their health.
While Uber and Lyft are alternative transportation choices, they can be expensive and occasionally unreliable. Students should not have to pay extra costs to obtain the medication they need to survive or perform at their best.
In addition to offering students convenient and accessible pharmacy services to support their health and wellness, an on-campus pharmacy can serve as a valuable training environment for pre-pharmacy concentration students to gain hands-on experience and enhance their skills early on in a real-world setting at UMaine.
According to the UMaine Department of Chemistry, “The chemistry curriculum aligns very well with the requirements for pharmacy programs. A student may complete two years of prerequisite courses at UMaine in chemistry and transfer into a Pharm D program or complete a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry at UMaine and then pursue a pharmacy degree, perhaps in an accelerated
Pharm D program. The chemistry department has developed pre-pharmacy curricula that can be tailored to your individual needs.”
Having an on-campus pharmacy within walking distance alleviates the need to arrange transportation for students to pick up their medication, which reduces overall stress. It can also enrich the pre-pharmacy curriculum, provide aspiring pharmacists practical experience, offer mentorship and guidance from pharmacists, and provide research opportunities that complement their studies or interests in the pharmacy field.
