Technology helps pharmacies manage rising prescription costs

Rising prescription costs are significantly impacting patient behavior, with research indicating that one in five people who filled a prescription in 2025 rationed their medicine due to expense. This includes splitting doses or delaying refills.

While public scrutiny often focuses on drug manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, and insurers, the cost structure is heavily influenced by the wholesale stage. Pharmacies purchase medications from various wholesalers at different prices, creating a gap between the manufacturer’s wholesale acquisition cost and the pharmacy’s actual acquisition cost.

New technology is being utilized to help pharmacy buyers compare wholesaler prices in real-time before placing orders. This approach aims to address drug affordability by optimizing the point at which pharmacies procure their inventory.