Washington, DC (October 24, 2025) – This week, the Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association (PPLA) is celebrating National Pharmacy Week (October 19-25), recognizing pharmacists as the backbone of patient care who ensure millions of Americans receive and understand the medications they rely on every day. But as the nation recognizes these essential healthcare professionals, ongoing pharmacy closures are leaving growing numbers of patients without access to local, reliable care.
Between 2010 and 2021, nearly 29% of the nation’s 90,000 retail pharmacies closed, with rural and underserved areas hit hardest. Rising costs, workforce shortages, and regulatory pressures continue to strain community pharmacies.
A recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed rule would deepen this crisis by shifting Patient Medication Information (PMI), the printed leaflets that explain how to take medications properly and outline side effects, to digital formats. Patients would have to request a printed copy, moving printing responsibilities and costs onto pharmacies – an added 71.1 million work hours and $1.6 billion in costs annually.
“Pharmacists are already doing more with less, and the FDA’s proposed rule on patient medication information only adds to their burden,” said Dave Joesten, Board Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association (PPLA). “Printed PMI isn’t just a piece of paper, it’s a lifeline that drug manufacturers, not pharmacies, should provide so Americans stay safe and more pharmacies aren’t forced to close.”
Printed PMI remains essential for patient safety, particularly for older adults, caregivers, and those without reliable internet access. Eliminating it risks widening health disparities and increasing strain on pharmacists already facing increased workloads.
To safeguard access and support patient safety, U.S. Representatives Cliff Bentz (R-OR) and Jared Golden (D-ME) recently reintroduced the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act (H.R. 5133), a bipartisan bill ensuring every patient receives clear, printed medication information with their prescriptions.
The Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association
Chartered in 2001, the PPLA serves as the voice for our members, advocating for patient safety and risk communication by fighting to keep information on paper and readily accessible for patients and caregivers. This information helps drive the patient involvement model of health care, helping patients get the maximum benefits from the powerful drugs they take while minimizing risk.
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