Health and Wellbeing

Our goal is to support the health, wellbeing and vitality of the communities we serve. Please read the stories below to learn more about our initiatives in this area.

Helping patients pay for medication

In the United States, rising drug prices are an important issue for our patients, and are at the heart of access to affordable healthcare. During fiscal 2018 we helped patients to secure more than $187 million in copay assistance for almost 633,000 prescriptions.
 
In Chile, our Farmacias Ahumada business expanded access to drugs for patients with chronic illness through the Ahumada Contigo (Ahumada With You) program launched in fiscal 2018.
 

Health and wellbeing research

Walgreens collaborates with academic institutions and scientific researchers on numerous studies, with a goal of helping to improve patient care while lowering healthcare costs.
 
More than 74 Walgreens outcomes studies from the past six years can be found on the Center for Health & Wellbeing Research website.

Veteran health

Walgreens has partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to work to reduce the number of military veteran suicides through community outreach to service organizations.
 
During fiscal 2018 Walgreens helped reach approximately 10,000 veterans and their spouses at national and state conventions with information about reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues and lists of available resources where they can receive information and care.

HIV testing

For the eighth consecutive year, in recognition of U.S. National HIV Testing Day, Walgreens and public information campaign Greater Than AIDS, teamed up to offer free HIV testing. Testing was available at more than 300 Walgreens stores in 180 cities in June 2018. This in-store testing program launched in 2011 in collaboration with Greater Than AIDS and has become the largest coordinated annual HIV testing event of its kind in the U.S. From 2011-2018, more than 48,000 free HIV tests have been administered through this event.

Community health events

During fiscal 2018 Walgreens stores sponsored more than 1,400 health events and health fairs in local communities to provide flu clinics, diabetes screening, and information on opioid safety and drug takeback.

Supporting abuse survivors

Boots UK donated more than 10,900 wash bags to 49 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the UK in fiscal 2018, the second year in its three-year initiative with UK SARCs. SARCs support victims and survivors who have been sexually assaulted by providing access to immediate and long-term support, as well as medical examinations and collecting forensic evidence.

Mental health

Boots Ireland participated with See Change to bring about positive change in attitudes toward people experiencing mental health difficulties. During See Change’s Green Ribbon campaign, Boots Ireland stores made available to customers more than 45,000 green ribbons to help promote conversations and break down the stigma around mental health.

Helping to reduce senior falls

Walgreens partnered with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Safety Council (NSC) to hold two senior days focused on providing prevention tips and advice for customers, including information for seniors to understand how their medications could impact their risk of falling. More than 110,000 senior customers spoke with pharmacists on fall prevention awareness during these senior days, receiving a brochure produced by Walgreens and the CDC. More than 50 percent of Walgreens stores across the U.S. participated in these events.

Flu vouchers

Walgreens collaborates with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on a flu shot voucher program aimed at uninsured and underinsured people. Over eight years, more than 1.5 million customers have redeemed vouchers for a flu shot.
 

Smoking cessation

Walgreens smoking cessation efforts include a digital platform with stop smoking answers and more than 24,000 trained pharmacists in pharmacies and on a 24/7 online chat who can support patients and provide information on smoking cessation products. Since its inception in October 2015 and as of August 31, 2018, more than 200,000 people have accessed the Walgreens quit smoking page, with around 11,000 clicking through to additional support to learn more and talk with a doctor.