July 2003

Walgreens Opens Second HIV/AIDS Pharmacy

The Walgreens drug store chain has opened an HIV/AIDS specialty facility at the Desert AIDS Project clinic in Palm Springs, California, following up on the one it operates at the Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago. John Brown, director of the Desert AIDS Project, said that it is important to have pharmacists who specialize in AIDS. He described antiretrovirals as “very expensive, complicated drugs that require a certain amount of management,” adding that “when someone starts a new drug and it has a side effect, Éthe pharmacist can help by telling them what kinds of over-the-counter medicines they can and can’t take.”