Pharmacy closures on Jacksonville’s Northside force families to wait days, even weeks, for critical medications

Pharmacy closures on Jacksonville’s Northside are forcing families to wait days — and even weeks — to get critical medications.

Recently, Walgreens closed its Gateway and Soutel stores, and with Harvey’s supermarkets being converted into Aldi’s, there are now only two major pharmacies left in the area.

District leaders said the shortage is creating dangerous delays for thousands of people.

“The only Walgreens that’s open is the one here on Lem Turner Road and Lem Turner and Dunn, so just imagine all of the thousands of people who are now just coming to this Walgreens,” Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman said.

From long lines in the store and drive-thru to missing prescriptions, Pittman said she’s seeing the impact firsthand.

“I’ve witnessed this myself. Several customers are coming in and s